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Year 11 Biology : Human awareness essay

"Should there be legitimate concerns about the use of biological control agents?"

Please use the information below to help prepare your response to this essay question.

Research Process

Defining - Brainstorm and mind map your ideas. You may be surprised how much you already know and it will help you identify the gaps you need to fill by further research. Click here for more help on defining. In the Grevillea computer lab you can access a brainstorming tool called (appropriately enough) "Inspiration", that can also quickly and easily convert to an essay plan or 'skeleton'. See Ms Spence for help on this programme.

Locating - Now that you know what you are looking for, please use the headings, keywords and links below to locate relevant information. Going straight to Google may work for you but it will be more time-consuming than using the short-cuts created for you below. Before you start 'copy'n'pasting' information from web sites, please take note of .....

Selecting - It is important to have your essay topic and plan in mind while searching for information so that you select and record only the information you need. A Web Noting template has been devised to help you do this easily while also keeping the information organised so that the next step is much easier than dealing with lots of pieces of paper. It will ensure that you have no trouble providing a bibliography as required.

Organising - If you have been using the Web Notes template this should be really easy!

Presenting - Click here for some helpful links on essay writing. There is a free pamphlet on Bibliographies available at the front desk in the RC.

Evaluating - This is not just what mark you get. Don't forget you could also submit this essay for your WBLA! Most Year 12 courses require similar research reports or essays, so be aware of the skills you have learnt or refined while doing this essay, that you can use to good effect next year.

ANY PROBS? ASK YOUR FRIENDLY TEACHER LIBRARIAN

SUBJECT HEADINGS - use these to search any library catalogue for resources ( may also help search the internet)

<name of crop/trees etc> - diseases and pests
<name of specific pest> e.g. European wasp
Agricultural ecology
Agriculture - environmental aspects
Biological control of pests
Biological control of weeds
Biological control systems
Feral animals
Insects, harmful and useful
Introduced species
Parasites
Pest control
Pesticides
Pesticides – environmental aspects
Pests
Weed control
Zoology, economic

NOTE: Useful video - Biotechnology : fungi - friend & foe - V611
The life cycle of fungi is completely dependent on other organic matters, either plant or animal. But they are not just parasites, they are often essential to the well-being of their hosts. This symbiotic relationship can be harnessed as a biological means of controlling pests & encouraging growth in trees and other crops. It may also provide new chemicals and drugs for the future.

...or you can

BROWSE THE SHELVES of any library, in these areas

338.14	Factors affecting agricultural production
577	Ecology
577.180994	Biological invasions
577.27	Effects of humans on ecology
577.55	Agricultural ecology
581.652	Botany of weeds
591.65	Harmful animals
632	Agriculture – plant injuries, diseases, pests
632.5	Animal pests
632.5	Weeds
632.9	Pest and disease control
632.96	Biological control of pests
635.92	Garden diseases and pests

INTERNET SITES Before you do your own search oif the Internet, try these ....

• http://www.science.org.au/nova/041/041key.htm
  Nova Science site looks at integrated pest management. It contains teaching activities, a glossary and useful sites.
• http://www.waite.adelaide.edu.au/School/
  This Adelaide University site designed for school students, has information
  about the history, chemical control and biological control of pest animals in Australia.
• http://www.affa.gov.au/content/output.cfm?ObjectID=76A1B161-E8A9-438C-8CC574678A35B192
  Agricultural pests and feral animal information is given on this site.
  Information sheets about rabbits, foxes, feral goats, pigs, rodents, feral horses, wild dogs, carp and feral cats are available.
• http://www.marine.csiro.au/CRIMP/
  Centre for Research on Introduced Marine Pests is from CSIRO and although still under development has information and further links.
• http://www.csiro.au/index.asp?type=issue&id=Meat%20Dairy%20and%20Aquaculture_Biological%20Control&stylesheet=aboutCSIROIssue
  Biological Approaches to Management of Plants, Insects and Animals. The CSIRO has many useful resources including this and the following articles. Searchable database.
  • http://www.ento.csiro.au/redistribution/
    Redistribution of Biological Control Agents - Paterson's curse; Bridal creeper; Carduus thistles; Bitou bush; Onopordum thistles Horehound
    Scotch broom; St John's wort
  • http://www.ento.csiro.au/weeds/weedmgt/biocontrol.html
    Biological control of weeds from CSIRO.
  • http://www.ento.csiro.au/weeds/mesquite/biocontrol.html
    Mesquite Biological Control
  • http://www.csiro.au/index.asp?type=faq&id=BiologicalControlWorm&stylesheet=divisionFaq
    Biological Control of Worm Parasites. Certain fungi show great potential as biological control agents against animal worm parasites. This information sheet discusses the research currently going on at CSIRO Livestock Industries.
• http://www.wa.gov.au/westfish/hab/broc/marineinvader/index.html
  This West Australian site provides identity information for key marine
  invasive species.The site also provides information about the dangers of marine pests and how they can arrive in a new location, the damage they do and what can be done about them.