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Evidence Guide: AHCARB807 - Conduct an entomology research project

Student: __________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________

Tips for gathering evidence to demonstrate your skills

The important thing to remember when gathering evidence is that the more evidence the better - that is, the more evidence you gather to demonstrate your skills, the more confident an assessor can be that you have learned the skills not just at one point in time, but are continuing to apply and develop those skills (as opposed to just learning for the test!). Furthermore, one piece of evidence that you collect will not usualy demonstrate all the required criteria for a unit of competency, whereas multiple overlapping pieces of evidence will usually do the trick!

From the Wiki University

 

AHCARB807 - Conduct an entomology research project

What evidence can you provide to prove your understanding of each of the following citeria?

Construct professional resource collections

  1. Develop and document a reference collection of insects
  2. Create a database of tree pests and vectors
  3. Compile and document host, climatic and geographic distribution data of insects affecting trees
  4. Record and compile generational phenology of insects
Develop and document a reference collection of insects

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Create a database of tree pests and vectors

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compile and document host, climatic and geographic distribution data of insects affecting trees

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Record and compile generational phenology of insects

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and assess tree pest and vector interactions

  1. Investigate and identify natural antagonists, predators and parasitoids of insects affecting trees
  2. Investigate phytophagous and damaging insect–tree dynamics
  3. Investigate the tree dynamics of symbiotic/beneficial and insects
  4. Investigate physiological responses of tree resistance to insects
  5. Investigate host–pathogen and pathogen–vector interactions
  6. Evaluate conditions for selection of host trees by subcortical feeding insects and factors associated with attack
  7. Investigate and assess insect transmission of disease
  8. Evaluate multi-trophic interactions between host plant, pest and pathogen/parasitoids
Investigate and identify natural antagonists, predators and parasitoids of insects affecting trees

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investigate phytophagous and damaging insect–tree dynamics

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investigate the tree dynamics of symbiotic/beneficial and insects

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investigate physiological responses of tree resistance to insects

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investigate host–pathogen and pathogen–vector interactions

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluate conditions for selection of host trees by subcortical feeding insects and factors associated with attack

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investigate and assess insect transmission of disease

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluate multi-trophic interactions between host plant, pest and pathogen/parasitoids

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluate control systems

  1. Determine economic costs of insect damage to trees
  2. Evaluate insects as indicators of environmental health and condition
  3. Determine insect biological hazards
  4. Investigate impact and effects of control strategies on target and non-target organisms
  5. Investigate insect resistance to pesticides
  6. Investigate and evaluate biological agents for tree pest control
  7. Investigate and evaluate tree health management options to manage insect infestation
Determine economic costs of insect damage to trees

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluate insects as indicators of environmental health and condition

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine insect biological hazards

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investigate impact and effects of control strategies on target and non-target organisms

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investigate insect resistance to pesticides

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investigate and evaluate biological agents for tree pest control

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investigate and evaluate tree health management options to manage insect infestation

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Present results of research

  1. Collect, tabulate, and analyse data from investigations
  2. Determine relevance of results to arboriculture
  3. Compile and communicate research and results into a research paper
  4. Submit research paper for review according to standards of a professional technical peer-reviewed journal
  5. Review feedback and amend according to reviewer comments
  6. Prepare article or presentation to communicate key facts and conclusions to industry
Collect, tabulate, and analyse data from investigations

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine relevance of results to arboriculture

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compile and communicate research and results into a research paper

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Submit research paper for review according to standards of a professional technical peer-reviewed journal

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review feedback and amend according to reviewer comments

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepare article or presentation to communicate key facts and conclusions to industry

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: _________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions to Assessors

Required Skills and Knowledge

An individual demonstrating competency must satisfy all of the elements and performance criteria in this unit.

There must be evidence that the individual has conducted entomological research with a focus in any two of the following research themes:

conception, design, and implementation of safe and efficacious control strategy

research and development of alternative pest management strategies

investigative study on the longevity, infectivity and virulence of tree pests

monitoring and assessment of infestation levels of a pest outbreak

design and implementation of biocontrol strategies using predators, parasitoids and entomopathogenic fungi

design and implementation of methods for monitoring and assessing population dynamics and distribution of tree pest species

implementation of a comparative ecological field study investigating efficacy and compatibility of pest insect control strategies

research and test a management plan for a phytophagous insect

research and test a breeding program for a beneficial insect

research three model systems to examine tritrophic effects of tree susceptibility

design, implement, investigate, evaluate and report on tritrophic interactions

investigate preference and survivability of insects in a tree environment

design projects investigating the subsequent risk analysis and tests required

development of a tree pest survey strategy

research and report on geographical or climatic distribution of insect pests

coordination with an international and domestic multidisciplinary collaborative research initiative.

There must also be evidence that the individual has:

investigated anatomical, morphological and taxonomical features of insects

examined the interaction of insects with trees

researched annualised population and generational behaviour of insects

developed and documented a reference collection of a minimum of one hundred specimens of arboricultural related insects and vectors from at least four orders of insects, annotated with the following:

date of collection

location where insect was collected

host tree/plant on which it was collected/feeds

name of insect to at least the level of genera

designed and developed a database to store information of tree pests and vectors

compiled host climatic and geographic distribution data

investigated and identified natural antagonists, predators and parasitoids of insects

investigated phytophagous and damaging insect–tree dynamics

investigated symbiotic/beneficial insect–tree dynamics

investigated physiological responses of tree resistance to insects

investigated host–pathogen and pathogen–vector interactions

evaluated conditions affecting selection of host trees by subcortical feeding insects and factors associated with attack

investigated and assessed insect transmission of disease

evaluated multi-trophic interactions between host plant-pest-pathogen/parasitoids

determined economic costs of insect damage to trees

evaluated insects as environmental indicators of health and condition

determined insect biological hazards

investigated impact and effects of control strategies on target and non-target organisms

investigated insect resistance to pesticides

investigated and evaluate biological control agents of tree pest control

researched and evaluated plant health management options to manage insect damage

collected, tabulated and analysed data for publications

determined relevance of results to arboriculture

compiled and communicated research and results in a research paper according to standards expected of professional technical peer-reviewed journal

submitted research paper for review

reviewed feedback from reviewer and amended paper

communicated key facts and conclusions to industry in an article or presentation.

An individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge required to perform the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit. This includes knowledge of:

research skills and designing research projects, including:

investigative skills and monitoring techniques

defining the scope and purpose of research activity

data collection, management and storage

data processing, analysis and modelling

statistics and data interpretation

design and development of formal research papers and the process of peer-reviewed publication

design and development of industry papers and presentations for communication of research and findings

entomology and the impact of insects on our environment, including:

anatomical, morphological and taxonomical features of different classes of insects

insect behaviour, ecology and nutrition and their interaction with trees

population and generational behaviour and phenology of insects and impact on plants and trees over time

host, climatic and geographic distribution of insects

insects as indicators of environmental health

collecting, storing and documenting insect reference collections, including:

catching and preserving techniques

taxonomic and naming conventions for insects

tagging and labelling specimens

design and construction of databases and data entry procedures

insects and their economic impact on society and health of trees, including:

natural antagonists, predators and parasitoids of insects

phytophagous and damaging insects on tree dynamics

symbiotic and beneficial insects and impact on tree dynamics

natural responses of trees to insect invasion

host-pathogen and pathogen-vector interactions

subcortical feeding insects and conditions for selecting host trees

factors associated with successful attack

insect as a vector for transmission of disease

insects as biological hazards

a systems approach to multi-trophic interactions between host plant-pest-pathogen or parasitoids

pest insect control strategies, their advantages and disadvantages, including:

mechanical control

chemical control and pesticide resistance

biological control agents

managing the environment and tree health to offset infestations

integrated pest management (IPM)

direct and indirect impact of chemical pesticides and biocontrol agents on target and off-target organisms.