Integrated Pest Management Exam 1 Notes Chapter 2 & 3

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes for Integrated Pest Management, covering ecological principles and the IPM concept.

Ecology

The study of the interrelationships among organisms and their surrounding environment.

Pests

Organisms that interfere with people’s management of a resource, or reduce the availability, quality, or value of a human resource.

Individual (Ecological Organization)

The first level of organization in an ecosystem.

Populations (Ecological Organization)

Locally interacting interbreeding groups of individuals of the same species.

Communities (Ecological Organization)

Populations of interacting plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Ecosystem (Ecological Organization)

Communities of plants/animals interacting in a defined area.

Habitat

The environment in which an individual or species population lives, including its biological and physical surroundings.

Ecological niche

All the components of the habitat with which an organism or population interacts, including its role in the community and conditions/resources for a viable population.

Aerobic

Refers to the presence of oxygen.

Anaerobic

Refers to the absence of oxygen.

Population density

The number of individuals of a species in a defined area.

Age distribution (population)

The proportion of individuals in each age group within a population.

Dispersal

The movement of individuals or their offspring into or out of an area.

Immigration

Movement into a population.

Emigration

Movement out of a population.

Migration

The frequent movement into and out of a populated area.

r strategists

Species characterized by high rates of reproduction, rapid growth, rapid colonization, and thriving when competition is not severe; often small-sized with efficient host finding ability.

K strategists

Species characterized by better competitive abilities, slower reproduction and growth rates, larger size, longer life cycles, and higher rates of offspring but lower reproductive rates.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

A sustainable, ecosystem-based pest management strategy focused on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques.

Key pests

Pests that may cause major damage on a regular basis unless controlled.

Occasional pests

Pests that become intolerable only irregularly, often due to climate, environmental influences, or human activities.

Secondary pest problems

Pest issues that occur as a result of actions taken to control a key pest.

Silent Spring

A book written by Rachel Carson and published in 1962, exposing the environmental dangers of pesticides like DDT and inspiring the modern environmental movement and IPM development.

DDT biomagnification

The process where DDT builds up in each step of the food chain, causing harm to top predators like birds and mammals.

Action Threshold (AT)

The point at which pest numbers or damage become high enough that pest control action is justified.

Economic Threshold (ET)

The pest population level at which action should be taken to prevent the population from reaching the Economic Injury Level; it's set below the EIL and is the most cost-effective time to intervene.

Economic Injury Level (EIL)

The lowest pest density at which economic damage occurs and the cost of damage equals the cost of control.

Aesthetic Injury Level (AIL)

The level of pest damage or pest populations the general public will tolerate in ornamentals.

Biological control

Any activity of a species that reduces the adverse effect of other species.

Cultural controls

Modifications of normal crop or landscape management practices to decrease pest establishment, reproduction, dispersal, and survival.

Mechanical & physical controls

Measures specifically taken to kill the pest directly or indirectly make the environment unsuitable for pest entry, dispersal, survival, or reproduction.

Chemical control

The use of pesticides as a tool for pest management.

Strategy (IPM)

The overall plan for reducing a pest problem, such as preventing pest outbreaks or maintaining pest numbers below harmful levels.

Tactic (IPM)

The specific action or method used to carry out an IPM strategy, like releasing natural enemies, applying pesticides, or changing cultural practices.