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Unit of Study FOR00107 - Forest Health: Pest and Disease Management (2020)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

    There will be a 4-day compulsory residential for all students (online and on-campus) that will be held on the Lismore campus. Please refer to http://scu.edu.au/timetables for further information on timetables.

Unit description

Introduces students to major issues in forest ecosystem health, forest entomology and pathology, ecology and management of invasive plants, and basic tree nutrition with a focus on biodiversity protection and enhancement. Also considered are broad forest ecosystem health phenomena including various types of dieback and forest decline. Some of the particular issues addressed include Bell Miner Associated Dieback in local native forests, Sirex wood wasp in pines and the fungal diseases Ramularia and Phytophthora and the emerging problem of myrtle rust.

Unit content

  • Biology of major pests of native forests, plantations and nurseries
  • Control techniques including chemical, silvicultural, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
  • Chemical control protocols — method of action, application methods (ground, aerial)
  • Strategies to overcome pest threats
  • Classification of the pathogenic agents of disease (fungi, bacteria, viruses, etc.), abiotic disorders and mutualistic associations, especially those of major importance to Australian forest ecosystems and trees in general
  • Biology of the major diseases of native forests, plantations and nurseries
  • Strategies to overcome disease threats
  • Assessment of weed problems and strategies for control — IPM, chemical, mechanical, silvicultural

Availabilities

Not currently available in 2020

Learning outcomes and graduate attributes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
Learning outcome count Learning outcome description GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 identify insect pests, weeds and causes of diseases in forest ecosystems
2 understand the biology of insects, diseases and weeds in forest ecosystems
3 demonstrate an understanding of pest control techniques and protocols
4 demonstrate an ability to develop strategies to overcome insect pests, weeds and disease in forest ecosystems.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. identify insect pests, weeds and causes of diseases in forest ecosystems
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  2. understand the biology of insects, diseases and weeds in forest ecosystems
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  3. demonstrate an understanding of pest control techniques and protocols
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  4. demonstrate an ability to develop strategies to overcome insect pests, weeds and disease in forest ecosystems.
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA4: