Biol4 - Pest Control

Question 0

Reasons farmers may choose to not use biological agents to control pests (4)

Answer 0

~takes a long time to act
~pests not completely removed
~cost of treatment
~biological agent may become a pest

Question 1

Advantages of biological control? (3)

Answer 1

~ Pests do not develop resistance
~biological agent is specific to pest
~no bioaccumulation (like pesticides in food chains)

Question 2

How do strains of resistant pests arise from pesticide use? (6)

Answer 2

~variation in pest population
~resistant allele occurs due to mutation
~pesticide will kill pests bar pests with an allele which gives them resistance to it
~resistant pests will survive and reproduce and pass on this (now) advantageous allele
~this is called natural selection
~causing the frequency of this advantageous allele to increase

Question 3

~disadvantages of pesticides? (2)

Answer 3

~may not be specific to pest

~bioaccumulation

Question 4

Advantages of pesticides (2)

Answer 4

~can eradicate pest

~less expensive than biological agent which requires specific research to see if performs fuction in correct conditions?

Question 5

Why pesticides are tested at greater range of concentration to the concentration used? (2)

Answer 5

~concentrated bioaccumulation (builds up in food chain)

~pesticide diluted in water