Topic 5 - Pest management Flashcards
What is a pest?
An organism that interferes with human activity
Situation- and opinion-dependent definition
What are 3 natural controls?
Predators, parasites, disease
What % do natural enemies control the populations of potential pest species?
98%
What is one of the worst enemies of an insect?
A spider
What are pesticides?
Chemicals designed to kill pest organisms
Insectides kill..
One or more species of insect
Herbicides kill..
One or more species of herbs/plants
Fungicides kill..
One or more species of fungus
Rodenticides kill..
One or more species of rodents (mice, rats)
Biocides kill..
Species other than the target
Do plants make their own pesticides?
Yes, for millennia
What are the first-generation pesticides?
Sulphur, lead, arsenic, mercury
Non-degradable inorganic toxins
What are second-generation pesticides?
Synthetic organic compounds
What was the first second-generation pesticide?
DDT
Persistent - not readily degraded
Water insoluble, retained on crops
Fat soluble
1939 Paul Muller discovered it was a potent insecticide
What is bioaccumulation?
The storage of chemicals in an organism in higher concentrations than are normally found in the environment
What is biomagnification?
The build-up of chemical elements or substances in organisms in successively higher trophic levels
Why was DDT banned?
Banned in 1972 due to adverse environmental effects (wildlife), as well as potential human health risks