CQUniversity Unit Profile
ZOOL19004 Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management
All details in this unit profile for ZOOL19004 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
Corrections

Unit Profile Correction added on 27-02-17

SCHEDULE CORRECTION

The Residential School is during Week 5 (3rd -5th April) in Rockhampton (NOT during week 11).

General Information

Overview

There are many human activities in natural systems where success relies on the management of pest insect, plant, and vertebrate species. Agriculture is perhaps the most obvious endeavour in which pests can cause massive environmental and economic damage if not managed effectively (e.g. weeds). In this unit the taxonomy, functional anatomy and morphology of pest species will be introduced, particularly insects which collectively form the most problematic pest group. The ecology of pest species, particularly as related to their management, will be explored, especially in the context of chemical and biological methods of population control. Integrated pest management and modern control strategies will be discussed as the contemporary best-practice solution to pest management.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 3
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisites: BIOL11099 Living Systems OR BIOL12110 Agricultural Production Systems

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2017

Distance
Rockhampton

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Residential Schools

This unit has a Compulsory Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 20%
2. Practical Assessment
Weighting: 30%
3. Examination
Weighting: 50%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Moodle feedback

Feedback

Comment was made that the course material seemed introductory in places (despite no student achieving a HD), and that more modern and local examples could be used.

Recommendation

Lecture material will be updated annually as usual, with an eye on incorporating more modern examples (although not always possible if not modern examples exist). Incorporating more local examples is risky given CQU's national footprint and the need to cater to people from a wide geographic background.

Action

Feedback was sought during contact time with students and the content was deemed appropriate for this semester.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Define terminology relating to the anatomy, physiology, ecology, efficacy as a pest, and management of insects, vertebrates, and plants
  2. Link insect, vertebrate, and plant physiology and ecology with their efficacy and management as a pest species, in verbal and written form
  3. Describe the diversity of pest management practices, particularly in the context of guarding against environmental, economic, and social damage, in verbal and written form
  4. Discuss the concepts, principles, and logic of integrated pest management in verbal and written form
  5. Acquire taxonomic skills by preparing properly curated insect specimens and identifying them to the level of order at a minimum
  6. Acquire practical skills in the scientific study of insects as a pest species by conducting experimental research on insect pests and thier management in both field and laboratory settings.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Written Assessment - 20%
2 - Practical Assessment - 30%
3 - Examination - 50%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Written Assessment - 20%
2 - Practical Assessment - 30%
3 - Examination - 50%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

Additional Textbook Information

.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Leigh Stitz Unit Coordinator
l.stitz@cqu.edu.au
Andrew Irving Unit Coordinator
a.irving@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 06 Mar 2017

Module/Topic

Course Intro

What defines an insect pest?

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 13 Mar 2017

Module/Topic

Insect taxonomy, evolution, and anatomy

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 20 Mar 2017

Module/Topic

Insect mouthparts and sensory perception

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 27 Mar 2017

Module/Topic

Insect reproduction, development, and ecology

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 5 Begin Date: 03 Apr 2017

Module/Topic

Insect pest management

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic


Vacation Week Begin Date: 10 Apr 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 17 Apr 2017

Module/Topic

Vertebrate pest biology, history, and legislation

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Pest Management Essay (Major assignment) Due: Week 6 Monday (17 Apr 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 7 Begin Date: 24 Apr 2017

Module/Topic

Terrestrial vertebrate pests

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 01 May 2017

Module/Topic

Aquatic pests

Native vertebrate pests

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 08 May 2017

Module/Topic

Plant pests

Integrated weed management

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 15 May 2017

Module/Topic

Terrestrial weeds

Aquatic weeds

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 22 May 2017

Module/Topic

No lectures scheduled due to residential school

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Residential School, Rockhampton, 26 - 28 May

Oral Presentations (held during residential school)

Week 12 Begin Date: 29 May 2017

Module/Topic

Review of key course concepts

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Practical Report Due

Friday (2 June 17) 11:45 PM AEST

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 05 Jun 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 12 Jun 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Pest Management Essay (Major assignment)

Task Description

Students will be required to write an essay justifying the need for managing a pest organism of their choosing, including proposed management strategies. The course Moodle site provides detailed instructions, hints, and tips for this assignment.

2000 words maximum (excluding title page, figure captions, tables and references)


Assessment Due Date

Week 6 Monday (17 Apr 2017) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Monday (1 May 2017)

Two weeks after submission


Weighting
20%

Minimum mark or grade
40%

Assessment Criteria

Marks will be awarded for writing skills, content, research and referencing. Marks will be deducted for plagiarism and copying. Additional hints and tips for successfully completing this assignment are available on the course Moodle site.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Define terminology relating to the anatomy, physiology, ecology, efficacy as a pest, and management of insects, vertebrates, and plants
  • Link insect, vertebrate, and plant physiology and ecology with their efficacy and management as a pest species, in verbal and written form
  • Describe the diversity of pest management practices, particularly in the context of guarding against environmental, economic, and social damage, in verbal and written form
  • Discuss the concepts, principles, and logic of integrated pest management in verbal and written form


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

2 Practical Assessment

Assessment Title
Practical Assessment (Residential School)

Task Description

Students will be required to submit both an oral presentation (10 % of final grade) and written report (20 % of final grade) summarising their residential school research project. Further details and instructions about both assessments are provided on the course moodle site.


Assessment Due Date

The oral presentation will take place during times to be determined at the residential school (26 - 28 May 2017), the written report will be submitted online through Moodle and is due in week 12 by 11:45 pm on 2 June 2017


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (16 June 2017)

.


Weighting
30%

Minimum mark or grade
40%

Assessment Criteria

Marks will be awarded for speaking and writing skills, clear and concise presentation of research results, library research effort, and logical thoughts when interpreting results. Marks will be deducted for plagiarism. Please see instructions on the Moodle site for extra details, hints, and tips for completing this assessment successfully.


Referencing Style

Submission
Offline Online

Submission Instructions
The oral presentation will be submitted in person at the end of the residential school, while the written report will be submitted online at the end of week 12.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Link insect, vertebrate, and plant physiology and ecology with their efficacy and management as a pest species, in verbal and written form
  • Acquire taxonomic skills by preparing properly curated insect specimens and identifying them to the level of order at a minimum
  • Acquire practical skills in the scientific study of insects as a pest species by conducting experimental research on insect pests and thier management in both field and laboratory settings.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Team Work
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

Examination

Outline
Complete an invigilated examination

Date
During the examination period at a CQUniversity examination centre

Weighting
50%

Length
180 minutes

Minimum mark or grade
45%

Exam Conditions
Closed Book

Materials
Calculator - all non-communicable calculators, including scientific, programmable and graphics calculators are authorised
Dictionary - non-electronic, concise, direct translation only (dictionary must not contain any notes or comments).
Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?