Ecological Aspects of Bio-interactions

The course focuses on biological interactions between invertebrates (arthropods, nematodes), micro-organisms and plants, and between beneficial organisms and pathogens and their hosts in natural and agro-ecosystems. The major themes covered in the lectures include biodiversity, interaction and communication between organisms, including different trophic levels, fundamental mechanisms underlying bio-interactions, and ecosystem services. We concentrate on intra- and interspecific interactions and application of this knowledge to explore, monitor and evaluate (agro-)ecosystem management strategies using biodiversity principles, often referred to as functional biodiversity.

• Understand interactions between individual organisms, and their consequences for populations, communities and ecosystems

• Understand the role of biodiversity in provision of ecosystem services

• Explore, develop and evaluate management strategies and practices that enable and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources and conservation of biodiversity

• Manage the interactions between crops, (parasitic) weeds, insects, bacteria, fungi, viruses and nematodes at different trophic levels

• Strengthen the inherent quality of agro-ecosystems in preventing pest and disease development with a socio-economic context

• Carry out a research project: formulate research questions and a project proposal, design an experiment, carry out experimental work, collect and record data, analyse results, write a scientific publication and present the results in a mini-symposium

• Written test with open and closed questions (50%)
• Assignment oral presentation (5%) Part of the mini-project. If the oral presentation is below the minimal grade, students can re-do the presentation during the resit period.
• Assignment report (25%) Part of the mini-project. If the report is below the minimal grade, students can re-submit a revised version of the report during the resit period.
• Performance (20%) Part of the mini-project. If the Performance is below the minimal grade, students need to re-do the entire mini-project in the next academic year.

ZSS06100 Laboratory Safety, ZSS06200 Fieldwork Safety Basic knowledge on biology and ecology is assumed

• All relevant information is available in Brightspace