Course Title: Define the pest problem

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2021

Course Code: AERS6989C

Course Title: Define the pest problem

School: 174T School of VE Engineering, Health & Science

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5367 - Diploma of Conservation and Land Management

Course Contact: Namrita Kaul

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4309

Course Contact Email: namrita.kaul@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 100

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required apply a strategic pest management approach to define a pest problem.
Pests may be weeds, vertebrate or invertebrate pests or a combination of all three. The pest problem may be in a local or broader regional area.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	AHCPMG413 Define the pest problem
Element:	1. Establish the background to the target pest problem
Performance Criteria:	1.1 Determine landscape and land use within target area 1.2 Establish appropriate consultation with stakeholders in affected area to identify and record their knowledge, concerns and constraints, as part of a program to underpin the planning for the management of the target pest 1.3 Identify desired environmental management and production outcomes 1.4 Collect and record information about management or production processes that relate to the pest problem 1.5 Identify non-target species populations in target area
Element:	2. Analyse the target pest problem in the area
Performance Criteria:	2.1 Establish and document the stakeholder's understanding of the distribution of the target pest within the affected area 2.2 Confirm target pest population, damage, and distribution data obtained from stakeholders, through analysis of other sources of information 2.3 Identify factors, particularly environmental and pest biology, which may influence the target pest population and distribution within the area 2.4 Document the target pest lifecycle, identifying optimum times, locations and behaviours that may impact on the effectiveness of the management program 2.5 Identify non-target species populations and distribution in the area 2.6 Identify risks and benefits to non-target species, environmental, local ecology and production that may be at risk due to the impact of the pest or pest control activities, including possible steps within the management program to minimise or eliminate any adverse impacts on these species 2.7 Identify potential ecological role of target pest in area 2.8 Define potential risks relating to exotic disease or toxicity
Element:	3. Determine critical control points for management of the target pest problem
Performance Criteria:	4.1 Estimate economic losses and environmental impacts of the pest presence 4.2 Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of managing pest 4.3 Prepare a report on outcomes of investigation for stakeholders 4.4 Determine whether the pest problem warrants the need for a pest management plan
Element:	4. Define and document the impacts of the target pest
Performance Criteria:	3.1 Identify periods of greatest risk as a result of the impact of the target pest or the proposed management program 3.2 Identify periods of significant vulnerability during target pest lifecycle 3.3 Determine appropriate time period for pest management activity

Learning Outcomes

Details of Learning Activities

Field trips

group work

in class worksheets

surveys

class discussions

weed identification

Teaching Schedule

Week No.	Week Starting	Learning activity	Assessment
	6-Jul	Topic 1 strategic pest management and introduced pest species Feral Cats	1.Worksheets on plant and animal pests
	13-Jul	Topic 2 Introduced species Camels and native pest animals Kangaroos	1.Worksheets on plant and animal pests
	20-Jul	Topic 3 Introduced species: Rabbits	1.Worksheets on plant and animal pests
	27-Jul	Topic 4 Barmah Camp Pest animals and plants, controls and stakeholder views (Fieldwork)	1.Worksheets on plant and animal pests
	3-Aug	Topic 5 Animal species pest - Kangaroos Debate	1. Worksheets on plant and animal pests
	10-Aug	Topic 7 Introduction to Environmental Weeds Nature of weeds Weed Ecology	1. Worksheets on plant and animal pests   Assessment 2 Research Paper on pest species Due
	17-Aug	Topic 8 Invasive Plants –Weeds of National Significance (WoNS)	1. Worksheets on plant and animal pests
8.	24-Aug	No class- Work on Assessment 3 See Topic 12
	31-Aug	Mid Semester Break, no classes
	7-Sep	Topic 9 Fieldwork: Mt Evelyn Powerful owl habitat and woody weed management	1. Worksheets on plant and animal pests
	14-Sep	Topic 10 Fieldtrip: Northern Landfill Epping, postburn weed control	1. Worksheets on plant and animal pests
	21-Sep	Topic 12: Individual Field Visit Assessment 3 Seb 1st year CALM Wonthaggi Camp	1. Worksheets on plant and animal pests
	28-Sep	Topic  11 Fieldtrip: Banyule Assess weeds and hand weeding	1. Worksheets on plant and animal pests
	5-Oct	Topic 13: Fieldtrip Banyule Kangaroo exclusion survey and field assessment Brown’s Nature Reserve (Greensborough)	1. Worksheets on plant and animal pests
	12-Oct	To be confirmed Topic 14: Plant Weed Identification and Discrimination Topic 6 Kinglake Friends Group Pest animals, Rabbits, controls and stakeholder views (Fieldwork)	1.Worksheets on plant and animal pests
	19-Oct	Topic 15:Using Chemicals for weed control OH&S for weed control	Assessment 1. Worksheets on plant and animal pests Due in class
	26-Oct	Meeting by appointment only	Assessment 3 Define the pest problem Due

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Notes:

The above delivery plan is to be used as a guide only and is correct at time of distribution. Sessions may be deferred and/or cancelled.

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

Overview of Assessment

Assessment may include research assignments, plant & animal surveys and written management reports

Assessment Tasks

Assessment 1.  Worksheets on plant and animal pests (Week 15)

Assessment 2. Assessment 2 Research Paper on pest species (Week 6)

Assessment 3. Define the pest problem (Week 16)

Assessment Matrix

Other Information

Assessment Information This course is graded in accordance with competency-based assessment
CA Competency Achieved  NYC Not Yet Competent DNS Did Not Submit for assessment
To pass this course you need to achieve a satisfactory result for all assessments. Students may be given additional opportunities to demonstrate competence. 
Late work that is submitted without an application for an extension (see below) will not be corrected.
APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME FOR SUBMISSION OF ASSESSABLE WORK - A student may apply for an extension of up to 7 days from the original due date. They must lodge the application form (available online http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension) at least 24 hours before the due date. The application should be emailed to the program Coordinator (namrita.kaul@rmit.edu.au) Students requiring longer extensions must apply for SPECIAL CONSIDERATION. For missed assessments such as tests and field trips- you (& your doctor if you are sick) must fill out a special consideration form. This form must be lodged online with supporting evidence prior to, or within, 5 days of the scheduled time of the assessment http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration
Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data and oral presentation. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited. It also occurs through enabling plagiarism, which is the act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy your own work. Please make sure you consider this carefully in completing all your work and assessments in this course and if you are unsure about whether you might have plagiarised, seek help from your teacher. 

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