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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Research Insects
   • Describe and identify anatomical, morphological and taxonomical features of insect specimens
   • Examine and describe the behaviour, ecology and nutrition of insect interaction with trees
   • Research annualised population and generational behaviour of insects
2. Construct professional resource collections
   • Develop and document an insect collection
   • Construct database of tree pests and vectors
   • Compile host, climatic and geographic distribution data
   • Record and compile generational phenology
3. Research and assess tree-pest and vector interactions
   • Research and identify natural antagonists, predators and parasitoids of insects
   • Identify phytophagous and damaging insect-tree dynamics
   • Identify symbiotic/beneficial and insect-tree dynamics
   • Research physiology of tree resistance to insects
   • Research host-pathogen and pathogen-vector interactions
   • Evaluate conditions associated with the selection of host trees by subcortical feeding insects and the factors associated with successful attack
   • Research and assess insect transmission of disease
   • Evaluate multi-trophic interactions between host plant-pest-pathogen/parasitoids from a systems approach
4. Evaluate control systems
   • Determine economic costs of insects
   • Evaluate insects as environmental indicators
   • Determine insect biological hazards
   • Investigate direct and indirect impact and effects of chemical pesticides or biocontrol agents on target and non-target organisms
   • Research insect resistance to pesticides
   • Investigate fungi as biological control agents of tree pests
   • Evaluate biological control methods of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
   • Research and evaluate plant health management options to offset the effects of insect damage
5. Present results
   • Collect, tabulate, and statistically analyse data for publications
   • Determine the relevance of the results to arboriculture
   • Compile and communicate research and test results in a research paper
   • Submit research paper to a professional technical peer-reviewed journal
   • Review feedback and amend where appropriate
   • Communicate key facts and conclusions to industry in an article published in a non-technical industry publication or via presentation to an industry training event

Range Statement

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Performance Evidence

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence for and demonstrate:

describing and identifying anatomical, morphological and taxonomical features of insect specimens

examining and describe the behaviour, ecology and nutrition of insect interaction with trees

researching annualised population and generational behaviour of insects

constructing a database of tree pests and vectors

developing and documenting an insect collection

compiling host climatic and geographic distribution data

researching and identifying natural antagonists, predators and parasitoids of insects

identifying phytophagous and damaging insect-tree dynamics

identifying symbiotic/beneficial and insect-tree dynamics

researching physiology of tree resistance to insects

researching host-pathogen and pathogen-vector interactions

evaluating conditions associated with the selection of host trees by subcortical feeding insects and the factors associated with successful attack

researching and assess insect transmission of disease

evaluating multi-trophic interactions between host plant-pest-pathogen/parasitoids from a systems approach

determining economic costs of insects

evaluating insects as environmental indicators

determining insect biological hazards

investigating direct and indirect impact and effects of chemical pesticides or biocontrol agents on target and non-target organisms

researching insect resistance to pesticides

investigating fungi as biological control agents of tree pests

evaluating biological control methods of integrated pest management (IPM)

researching and evaluating plant health management options to offset the effects of insect damage

collecting, tabulating, and statistically analysing data for publications

determining the relevance of the results to arboriculture

compiling and communicate research and test results in a research paper

submitting research paper to a professional technical peer-reviewed journal

reviewing feedback and amend where appropriate

communicating key facts and conclusions to industry in an article published in a non-technical industry publication or via presentation to an industry training event.

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

anatomical, morphological and taxonomical features of insect specimens

behaviour, ecology and nutrition of insect interaction with trees

annualised population and generational behaviour of insects

database construction of tree pests and vectors

annualised population of insects

generational behaviour of insects

insect collections

generational phenology

host, climatic and geographic distribution data

natural antagonists, predators and parasitoids of insects

phytophagous and damaging insect-tree dynamics

symbiotic/beneficial and insect-tree dynamics

physiology of tree resistance to insects

host-pathogen and pathogen-vector interactions

conditions associated with the selection of host trees by subcortical feeding insects

factors associated with successful attack

insect transmission of disease

multi-trophic interactions between host plant-pest-pathogen/parasitoids from a systems approach

economic costs of insects

insects as environmental indicators

insect biological hazards

direct and indirect impact and effects of chemical pesticides or biocontrol agents

target and non-target organisms

insect resistance to pesticides

fungi as biological control agents of tree pests

biological control methods of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

plant health management options to offset the effects of insect damage

collection, tabulation, and statistical analysis of data for publications

compilation and communication of research and test results in a research paper

professional technical peer-reviewed journal

methods of reviewing and amending feedback

methods of communicating key facts and conclusions in articles and presentations

publishing in non-technical industry publications.

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