| CODE | RFS0100 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Agricultural Systematics | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 00 - Mod Pre-Tert, Foundation, Proficiency & DegreePlus | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 4 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Rural Sciences and Food Systems | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit introduces the student to the classification of living organisms into kingdoms and subsequent subdivisions. The study-unit will be divided into three sections (a) Systematic Botany: The characteristics of plant groups of agricultural significance; features which are important in determining the environmental and cultural requirements of different crops; diagnostic features of Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms; diagnostic features of main Angiosperm families of economic importance; (b) Agricultural Zoology: Animal groups of economic significance; diagnostic features of all animals of economic importance except insects and domestic animals; Platyhelminthes; Nematodes; Annelids (earthworm); Arthropods (Acari, millipedes), Mollluscs, Mammals (rodents); and (c) Entomology: External and internal anatomy of insects; classification of insects; Apterygots Orders, Thysanura, Diplura, Protura and Collembola; selected Exopterygote Orders, Odonata, Orthoptera, Hemiptera, Homoptera, Thysanoptera; selected Endopterygote Orders, Neuroptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera; Insects and Man, disease vectors, agricultural pests, benefits and beneficial species. Study-Unit Aims: To describe and explain the concept of biological classification and be able to distinguish the main biological groups of agricultural relevance. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - arrange organisms in different kingdoms; - recognize the characteristics that pertain to living organisms; - identify living organisms of agricultural importance; - distinguish between beneficial and harmful organisms; - construct a dichotomous key for a number of organisms provided for classification. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - demonstrate the differences between organisms; - relate the anatomical features of a pest to the damage provoked on a host plant; - choose the right biological control for a number of pests and diseases; - interpret the interactions between different organisms within an ecosystem; - interpret a dichotomous key. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Stern, K. R., Bidlack, J. E., Jansky, S., & Uno, G. (2008). Introductory plant biology. Boston, MA, USA: McGraw-Hill Higher Education. - Haslam, S. M., Sell, P. D., & Wolseley, P. A. (1977). A flora of the Maltese Islands. - Allaby, M. (Ed.). (2003). A dictionary of zoology. OUP Oxford. - Gullan, P. J., & Cranston, P. S. (2014). The insects: an outline of entomology. John Wiley & Sons. - Lecture Handouts. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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