Elements and Performance Criteria
- Research Insects
- Construct professional resource collections
- Research and assess tree-pest and vector interactions
- Research and identify natural antagonists, predators and parasitoids of insects
- Identify phytophagous and damaging insect-tree dynamics
- Identify symbiotic/beneficial and insect-tree dynamics
- Research physiology of tree resistance to insects
- Research host-pathogen and pathogen-vector interactions
- Evaluate conditions associated with the selection of host trees by subcortical feeding insects and the factors associated with successful attack
- Research and assess insect transmission of disease
- Evaluate multi-trophic interactions between host plant-pest-pathogen/parasitoids from a systems approach
- Evaluate control systems
- Determine economic costs of insects
- Evaluate insects as environmental indicators
- Determine insect biological hazards
- Investigate direct and indirect impact and effects of chemical pesticides or biocontrol agents on target and non-target organisms
- Research insect resistance to pesticides
- Investigate fungi as biological control agents of tree pests
- Evaluate biological control methods of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
- Research and evaluate plant health management options to offset the effects of insect damage
- Present results
- Collect, tabulate, and statistically analyse data for publications
- Determine the relevance of the results to arboriculture
- Compile and communicate research and test results in a research paper
- Submit research paper to a professional technical peer-reviewed journal
- Review feedback and amend where appropriate
- Communicate key facts and conclusions to industry in an article published in a non-technical industry publication or via presentation to an industry training event