Forest Plagues and Diseases

Course objectives:

Offer to the students a view of the forest health problems and their causes, as well as the strategies to prevent or control them.


Results of learning:

• Identify the main harmful agents: biotic and abiotic and recognize their damage.
• Know the life cycle of biotic agents
• Understand the ecology of forest pests and pathogens, plant-insect and plant-pathogen interactions, pest population dynamics and regulating factors with special attention to the current changing situation.
• Learn the techniques of sampling insects and pathogens with particular attention to monitoring processes and risk assessment.
• Recognize the importance of the various control strategies to prevent, control and manage forest pests and diseases.
• Become familiar with decision-making in controlling pests and diseases. How, when and what techniques can be applied, if necessary, taking into account environmental and economic costs.

The degree report for this curse includes the following contents:

• Concept of pest, disease and injury thresholds.
• Main harmful agents: biotic and abiotic.
• Population dynamics of harmful organisms.
• Prevention and integrated pest management in forest ecosystems.
• Life cycle, damage and specific control of the major damaging agents.

These contents will be developed according to the following syllabus:

Theoretical Contents:
I. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF FOREST ENTOMOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY. Introduction to forest pests and diseases. Concept of pest, disease and biological balance. Organisms causing damage to the forest environment. Factors that may influence the development of pests and diseases in forest ecosystems. Health status of the forests in a changing world: movement of plant material across borders and climate change. Classroom hours: 4, individual work: 5 hours.

II: PREVENTION AND CONTROL. Prevention and detection of forest pests and diseases. Systems of detection. Determinant factors. Physical and biological indicators. Diagnostic elements. Monitoring techniques. Biomonitoring Networks. Threshold damage. Integrated Pest management in forest areas. Control strategies: cultural control, biological control, biotechnical control (growth regulators and semiochemicals), genetic control, chemical control and legislative control. Quarantine pests. Classroom hours: 5, individual work: 7 hours.

III. BIOLOGY AND DAMAGE OF MAJOR INSECTS AND PATHOGENS. Harmful insects to forest stands, common species, biology and specific control. Non- infectious diseases. Diseases caused by fungi, common species biology and control. Diseases caused by nematodes and other pathogens, common species, biology and control. Classroom hours: 14, individual work: 19 hours.

IV. SPECIFC PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED TO THE FOREST SECTOR. Particular problems of forest nurseries and new plantations, preventive measures, common pest species and their control. Classroom hours: 1, individual work: 1 hour.

Practical Contents:
• Field trip. Field trip to observe pest problems in forest stands. This field trip is essential to see the organisms causing damage directly to the forest environment which will give the students a much better view of the reality than the photographic or collection material presented in other classes. Also in this field trip, we seek that students can make an analysis of the causes that may be favouring the presence of these harmful organisms guided by the teacher and write a first technical report of a forest condition based on a real case. Duration 4 hours.
• Interactive class 1. Insect monitoring and sampling. Duration: 2 h.
• Interactive classes 2 and 3. Recognition of the major forest pests. Duration: 2 h. In these two practices students can observe and manipulate the major forest pests in order to learn how to recognize them in the field.
• Interactive class 4. Recognition of the major forest diseases. Duration: 2 h. This practice is similar to the previous two but studying pathogens.

Basic bibliography
JACTEL, H., LUNG, B., DIEZ, J., FERNANDEZ, M., LOMBARDERO, M.J., DUCROS, J., BRANCO, M., HALDER, I., (Eds.), 2002. Forest pests and diseases. (Acceso electrónico en WWW.IEFC.NET, (Guide phytosanitair, use the flag to choose the language ).
WAINHOUSE, D. 2004. Ecological methods in forest pest management. Oxford University Press.
GARBELOTO, M., GONTHIER, P. 2018. Forest pathology and plant health. Forests. ISBN 978-3-03842-672-1 (PDF) Disponible en: https://www.mdpi.com/books/pdfview/book/501
LEY DE SANIDAD VEGETAL. BOE 279 22649 LEY 43/2002.
http://www.medioruralemar.xunta.es/es/areas/agricultura/sanidad_vegetal…
http://mediorural.xunta.es/areas/agricultura/sanidade_vexetal/plans_de_…

Complementary bibliography
ICP Forest. Forest Condiction of Europe. http://www.icp-forests.org/
MUÑOZ et al. 2003. Sanidad Forestal: guía en imágenes de plagas, enfermedades y otros agentes presentes en los bosques. Mundi Prensa . 575 pp.
PAIN, T.D. 2007. Invasive Forest Insects. Ecological Pest management in Global Forest of a changing world. Springer The Netherlands.
PEDIGO, L. P. 1999. Entomology and pest management. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.
ROMANYK, N. e CADAHIA, D. (Coor.). 1992. Plagas de insectos en las masas forestales españolas. MAPA, Madrid.
SPEIGHT, M.R. HUNTER M.D. WATT A.D. 2008. Ecology of Insects. Concepts and applications. Wiley-Blackwell.628 pp
SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE FITOPATOLOGÍA. 1996. Patología Vegetal. Tomos I y II. Phytoma-España.
TAINTER, F. H. e BAKER, F. A. 1996. Principles of forest pathology. John Wiley & Sons, New York.
ZÚBRIK, A.K. e CSÓKA. G. 2013. Insects and diseases : damaging trees and shrubs of Europe: a colour atlas. Verrieres le Buison (France).

In this course the student will acquire or perform a series of basic skills common to any university degree and also skills specific to Forest Engineering. Within the framework of competencies that are designed for this degree our course will work to develop these:

Basic, general and transversal skills:

• CB2 - That students can apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and have competencies typically demonstrated through devising and sustaining arguments and solving problems within their field of study
• CB3 - That students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their field of study) to make judgments that include a reflexion on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.
• CB4 - That students are able to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to a specialist and non-specialist audience.
• CG2 - Ability to analyze the structure and function of ecological systems and forest resources, including landscapes
• CG3 - Knowledge of the degradation processes affecting forest systems and resources (pollution, pests and diseases, fires, etc.) and the ability to use techniques to protect forest regions, to restore forest hydrology, and to preserve biodiversity. In this subject we will work only the processes of degradation caused by forest pests and diseases, and teh techniques to protect the forest against them; the rest of the competency will be developed in other subjects
• CG7 - Ability to solve technical problems arising from the management of natural spaces
• CG10 - Ability to apply the techniques of forest management and land use planning, and the criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management in the context of forest certification procedures. In this subject we will work only the second criterion of forest certification on maintaining the health and vigor of forests, the rest of the competency will be developed in other subjects.
• CG13 - Ability to design, manage, develop, implement and interpret plans and projects and to write technical reports, reconnaissance reports, assessments, expert opinions and appraisals.
- CT1- Ability for analysis and synthesis
- CT2 – Ability for reasoning and argumentation
- CT3 - Ability to work individually with self-critical attitude
- CT5 - Ability to obtain adequate, diverse and updated information
- CT6 - Ability to develop and present an organized and understandable text
- CT7 - Ability to make a presentation in public in a clear, concise and consistent manner
- CT8 - Commitment to veracity of the information provided to others
- CT10 - Use of bibliographic information and from the Internet
- CT11 - Use information in a foreign language
- CT12 - Ability to solve problems through the integrated application of knowledge

Specific competences:

- CECF2- Zoology and Forest Entomology. In this subject we will work only with Forest Entomology the rest of the competency will be developed in other subjects.
- CETEEF6 - Forest Diseases and Pests

Teaching of this subject will be held by classroom activities and non-classroom activities. All are mandatory
Classroom activities:
They are divided into lectures and interactive classes. The interactive classes include laboratory practice and field trips.
Teaching of this subject will be held by classroom activities and non-classroom activities.
Classroom activities:
They are divided into lectures and interactive classes. The interactive classes include laboratory practice and field trips.
The lectures will be held in large groups in the classroom, they are always accompanied by a rich visual support (photographic, video in English or Spanish, etc.) that facilitates the understanding of the subject to facilitate the diagnosis and recognition of forest health problems. The active participation of students by encouraging discussion on various aspects will be sought. Competencies: CT2, CT7, CT10, CT11, CTEEF6, CECF2CB2.

The interactive classes are a support for the lectures. In the lab, students have the opportunity to see fresh and collection samples affected by insects or pathogens previously reviewed in class. Field trips provide an opportunity for students to observe harmful agents directly on trees and make a risk analyses of the characteristics of the stand that may favour the presence of these harmful agents. Competencies: CT1, CT2, CT3, CT7, CT12, CB2, CB3, CB4, CG2, CG3, CG7, CTEEF6, CECF2CB2
Non-classroom activities:
1. Each student has to write a technical report of the field trip reporting the damaged observed and providing solutions (3 hours of personal work). This report will be graded. Competencies: CT1, CT2, CT3, CT6, CT12, CB2, CB3, CB4, CG2, CG3, CG7, CG3, CG13, CTEEF6, CECF2.

2. Resolution of practical cases. Students must solve several case studies that can address different aspects: recognition of a health problem and recommendations to solve it, decide whether or not it is necessary apply a control strategy and when, etc. These case studies will be repeated throughout the course with different species and situations. Students can use the forums of the on-line course to resolve case studies, but each student must submit an individual report. Comptencies: CT1, CT2, CT3, Ct5, CT6, CT7, CT8, CT10, CT11, CT12, CB2,CB3, CB4, CG2, CG3, CG7,CG10, CG13, CTEEF6, CECF2.
3. The student must present a small collection of samples with different symptoms well identified. This will improve the ability of detect health problems in field conditions. Competencies: CT2, CT3, CT7, CT11, CG3, CTEEF6, CECF2.

The course will be also provided through the on-line campus. Students can view the grading, solve quizzes, download class material (ex. additional readings, lecture notes, watch videos in Sapnish and English, scripts, etc) and open links to other websites. The portal also provides forums where students can leave their comments and opinions and interact with their classmates.

The evaluation of the course will be carried out by means of a written test (60%) and by means of continuous evaluation (40%). Continuous assessment includes 20% of practical classes, 10% of individual works from the practical collection and 10% of student participation in classroom activities. The course will not be approved by the student who does not obtain a minimum of 5 points out of 10(or 0,5 out of 1) in each part (written test, practices, compilation and classroom work).
The grading of the course will be determined as follows:
1. Written exams (60%): The exam of the theoretical contents has three parts: a multiple choice test (3 points); four short questions (4 point) and a practical case to be solved by the students (3 points). There is a possibility of doing partial exams and the minimum qualification to average them is a 5 of 10.
Competences: CB2, CB3, CB4, CG2, CG3, CG7, CG10, CG13, CECF2, CETEEF6, CT12

2. Lab and field practices (20%): At the end of each lab class will be a short quiz, generally consisting of the visual identification of insects or pathogens reviewed in each class.
Competences: CG3, CECF2, CETEEF6
3. Work submitted by students: 3.1. Field collection: Students have to present a collection of at least 10 damaging agents of the forest ecosystems correctly identified. In the case of infectious organisms it is recommended that students present original photographic material. Each sample submitted shall record the date and place of collection as well as the identification of harmful agent and the host plant. The collection will be assessed as follows: number of insects presented 0.1 points (if you have the 10 specimens requested, maximum of 0,2 points if you have more). 0.04 points for each correct identification to the species level (minimum = 0.4 points). Additionally the students has to respond to three general questions about the specimens of his collection at 0.1 points / question (= 0.3 points.). Finally the teacher gives an assessment of the collection in terms of variety, interest, work and presentation (0.1 points). 3.2. Field trip report.
Competencies: CB2, CB3, CB4, CG2, CG3, CG7, CG10, CG13, CECF2, CETEEF6
4. Participation in classroom activities (10%). Class attendance, solving questionnaires, solving practical cases and participation in the activities proposed.
Competences: CB2, CB3, CB4, CG2, CG3, CG7, CG10, CG13, CECF2, CETEEF6
The rest of the transversal competencies are worked, but not evaluated.
All assessment activities are required, have to be passed independentely and are aimed to strengthening the capacity to recognize and assess the harmful agents that can cause damage to forest systems and forest products and solve problems arising from the forest health management, facilitating the decision-making.
In the case of detecting the fraudulent performance of the exercises or tests, the provisions of the "Regulations for the evaluation of the academic performance of students and the review of grades" will be applied (article 16 of Resolution of 15/6/2011 of the USC, DOG of 7/21/2011).

The evaluation system is the same for first and second opportunity and repeating students. The students who have granted the dispensation to class will follow the same evaluation process, but the 10% of the class activities will be applied to the technical report of the field practice.

Lectures: 24 h
Interactive class: 12 h
Small group titorials: 2 h
Exam: 3 h
Readings and lecture preparation: 32 h
Classroom activities: 20 h

Class and lab attendance is required. This course is structured to provide opportunities for hands-on and active learning, and attendance is required for effective assimilation of this material unless. The student must complete the information with the literature recommended and directly in the field preparing his pest collection. It is recommended to follow up on tutorials by discussing questions and problems.