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Insects in Agroecosystems
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:28:56
Abstract
The focus is on insect -plant interactions in agroecosystems in Central Europe and on useful natural factors which limit pest insect populations. Starting from important crops, insect orders of economic significance are discussed in-depth, including basic theoretical aspects and recent advances in research.
Objective
At the end of this course, students will have an overview about important insects (and mites) in selected agroecosystems in middle Europe. They gained in-depth knowledge on exemplary species and their ecological role and can transfer this knowledge to related questions in other systems. They will have learned about actual research questions addressed in insect-plant relationships in agroecosystems.
Content
Insect-plant interactions in middle European agroecosystems are the focus of this course. Always starting from an important perennial or annual crop, a specific insect order of economic significance is presented with the life cycle of an exemplary herbivore (pest insect), followed by its population dynamics, and the insect-plant interactions relevant for the resulting damage. Natural factors which limit such damage are introduced, e.g. parasitoids and predators. Each chapter is complemented by a basic ecological, biological or engineering theme or approach such as host shift, physiological time, or sampling technique. The structure of the course follows the field season, so that students have the opportunity to observe the development of crop, pests and damage in the field, and to recognize insects and their effects on crop plants. Living organisms are presented in the course to facilitate this transfer from scientific theory to application under field conditions. Recent advances in research will be addressed throughout the course.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- end-of-semester examination
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | Insects in Agroecosystems |
|
2 h weekly |