BI1463, Floristics and insect faunistics with plant protection and conservation, 7.5 Hp
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Syllabus

Finalized by: Programnämnden för utbildning inom landskap och trädgård, 2024-10-23
Valid from : Spring semester 2025 (2025-01-20)

Level

First cycle (G1N)

Main field of study

Biology

Biology Area

Other biology courses

Grading Scale

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Course language

Swedish

Entry Requirements

Objectives

The objectives of the course are to convey knowledge about general taxonomy, identification, and basic biological and ecological contexts of vascular plants and insects and some other arthropods from the Swedish flora and fauna. Significant focus is put on knowledge about families and species, their relevance for plant protection and nature conservation, and identification skills.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to

• find information about the distribution, crop protection status, nature conservation and threat status of Swedish species
• identify organisms from the scope of the course to specified taxonomic levels (order, family, genus, or species, depending on the organism) by means of taxonomic literature
• recognize and identify selected organisms at different taxonomic levels (order, family, genus or species, depending on organism) based on general appearance (habitus) and specific traits, and through plant damage and other symptoms, which can be observed under field conditions

describe basic information about the ecology and biology of selected organism groups, related to their biotopes, plant or animal communities, and ecological roles as pests, threatened species or species groups, and indicator species.

Content

Subject-related content

The course covers mainly identification of Swedish vascular plants and arthropods; among arthropods mainly insects. Plant-related content includes basic taxonomy and general morphology. It also includes how to recognize common and important plant families, and selected species including trees, bushes and important weeds. Content related to insects and other arthropods includes basic taxonomy and general morphology, including details that are often important for determination. It also includes how to recognize or determine most insect orders, and a significant number of families and other groups.

The course includes several important arthropod groups constituting pests, or beneficials such as pollinators and natural enemies of pests. In addition, some typical symptoms and plant damage characteristic of specific types of pests are also included.

For some organisms covered in the course are also included overviews of their biology and ecology, related to their biotopes, plant or animal communities, and ecological roles as pests, threatened species or species groups, or indicator species.

Sustainable development is covered in the course through the focus on fauna and plants that are important from a plant protection perspective and provides basic support for integrated plant protection through identification of weeds, pests, and beneficials. The course also has a central conservation perspective for biological diversity and indicator species for different environments. The focus is almost entirely on Swedish flora and fauna, but a global perspective is covered to some degree in descriptions of earth’s biomes and the origins of different crops and invasive species. Gender perspectives are not part of the subject-related content, but are covered to some extent in material describing cultural and natural history perspectives on the study of our flora and fauna.

Teaching formats

To further student learning and promote discussion, a variety of methods are used:

Lectures and discussions in real time and as recorded presentations, made available as distance lectures and through the course platform.

Continuous contact between students and teachers is provided through discussions on the course platform where participants can upload visual materials and information for discussion among the student group and feedback from teachers.

Written assignments in the form of exercises and hand-ins of portfolios with documentation of identifications of plants and animals.

Excursions for field observations, exercises and collection of materials.

Identification exercises with hand lenses and microscopes using laboratory preparations and field materials collected by students.

The course focuses on the following generic competencies:

Information competence

Written communication

The following components are compulsory:

Participation in a number of course excursions

Participation in a number of practical exercises

Participation in discussions with posting on the course platform

The number and times of compulsory components will be specified in the course schedule published before the start of the course.

Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course

Examination is comprised by written examinations as quizzes on the course platform, written exercises, determination portfolios with documentation, and documentation of compulsory participation in exercises and on the course platform. Passing grade requires passed written examinations, approved written exercises and hand-ins, and documented participation in compulsory components

Responsible Department/Equivalent

Department of Plant Protection Biology

Supplementary information

Module set

Title	Credits	Code
Examined general knowledge and organism knowledge	2.5	0010
Portfolios observations of plants and animals	3.0	0020
Practical exercises: Excursions and determination exercises	1.0	0030
Other submissions (Tasks and forum discussions)	1.0	0040

The Course Replaces

BI1403 Basic floristics and arthropod faunistics from a plant protection and nature conservation perspective

Other Information

Participants are expected to have access to mobile phones with camera or some other digital camera. Preferably with gps or corresponding possibilities to take pictures with coordinate information.