UCL - Lutte biologique

[BOE2166]

[12h + 24h] 3 credits

Teacher(s): Claude Bragard, Thierry Hance

Language: French

Level: Second

Aims
Main themes
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

Biological pest control is becoming very popular to protect cultures. However, its installation is quite complicated and requires a profound knowledge of phytosanitary problems (insects and diseases) and the possibility to use natural agents in pest control (predators, parasites, competitors, entomopathogens, etc.). Additionally, industrial applications like auxiliary production, their diffusion and the quality control correspond to new potential uses. The objectives of the course are to explain the basic techniques necessary to use the methods of biological pest control and to present the actual possibilities and the corresponding products. Also, an analysis of ins and outs of this type of intervention will be practised. The problems and limitations will be discussed and the future perspectives described.

Main themes

After a brief history of biological pest historic illustrated by the most striking examples, the analysis of mechanisms of population growth and its fluctuations will be undertaken. The plant-insect, prey-predator and host-parasite systems will be studied and their modelisation explained for use in biological pest control. This course will be accompanied by article discussions and excursions.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Precursorycourses basics in ecology
Evaluation Oral examination and individual paper
Support Syllabus, law texts, articles, web.