BI2EMV4-Management of Vertebrate Pests

Module Provider: School of Biological Sciences
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Phil Baker
Email: p.j.baker@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module will provide an introduction to the ways that certain vertebrate species interact with people and how the problems resulting from these interactions are dealt with.

Aims:

This module will provide an introduction to the ways that certain vertebrate species interact with people and how the problems resulting from these interactions are dealt with.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to:

• Describe the characteristics that result in some vertebrate species achieving pest status.


• Understand the processes followed to alleviate damage or other problems caused by these pest species


• Be familiar with the different types of human wildlife interactions that occur in different parts of the world.

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:

Some vertebrate species interfere with man's activities, in which case they are assigned the label "pest". The first reaction is often to control them. In certain situations (e.g. agriculture), where the objective is to control damage, methods can be applied to reduce the average abundance of the pest species. In other situations (e.g. hospitals, human dwellings, or on islands) the objective can be eradication. Alternatively, where control is unacceptable (badgers) or impractica l (rabbits), physical barriers may be used to exclude the pest species. Where vertebrates impact on the natural environment, their control often becomes an integral part of wildlife management and conservation. Examples of human wildlife interactions from around the world are considered.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Lectures will introduce the broad diversity of vertebrates and in what situations their behaviour evolves so that they are considered pest species. Lectures will cover the impact of pest species on other species in a conservation context, on agricultural productivity and other types of human wildlife interactions.