Erciyes University - Info Package

Course unit title	Level of course unit	Course unit code	Type of course unit	Semester of course unit	Local credit	ECTS credit	Syllabus
INSECT BEHAVIOUR AND ECOLOGY	Third cycle	ZBK 541		1	7.50	7.50	Print

Description of course unit

Prerequisites and course requisities	None
Language of instruction	TURKISH
Coordinator	ASSIST. PROF. DR. MAHMUT ALPER ALTINOK
Lecturer(s)	ASSIST. PROF. DR. MAHMUT ALPER ALTINOK
Teaching assitant(s)	NONE
Mode of delivery	FACE TO FACE
Course objective	In this lecture, ecology and behaviours of individual insects will be investigated. Providing information on responses to abiotic conditions,ways for acquision of resources and evaluation of resource quality is among main objectives of the lecture.
Course description	Insects are dominant group of organisms on earth by means of both taxonomical diversity and ecological function. They provide food for many organisms, fuction as predator, prey, disease vector etc. This lecture investigates insects and their relations with biotic-abiotic environments.

Course contents

1	What is insect ecology, and the coverage
2	Reponses of insects to various abiotic conditions. Bioms, effects of environmental variations, catastrophic events
3	Survival strategies of insects under fluctuating enviromental conditions, thermoregulation
4	Water balance, chemistry of air and water, other abiotic factors
5	Factors affecting dispersal behaviours, effects of crowded populations on behaviours of individuals.
6	Food status, condition of habitat and resources, dispersal mechanisms.
7	Obtaining resources, assessment of resource quality, response of insects to variations of resource quality
8	Exam
9	Chemical defenses of host plants
10	Chemical defenses of arthropods
11	Decision of resource suitability. Finding suitable sources, directing to resources, learning.
12	Resource cost, search and dispersal behaviours, mating.
13	Reproduction and social behaviours, competitional, defansive and mutualistic behaviours, efficiency of resource usage and related factors
14	Discussion
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Learning outcomes of the course unit

1	What is insect ecology and relations of insects to their biotic and abiotic environments
2	How insects respond to various abiotic conditions and which survival strategies are utilized most by insects.
3	What are the main factors effecting dispersal of insects.
4	How insects reach to different resources like area to live, food etc., how they evaluate the suitability of the resources and which criterias are considered to draw a conclusion on suitability of the resource.
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*Contribution level of the course unit to the key learning outcomes

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Number of stars refer to level of contribution from 1 (the least) to 5 (the most)

Planned learning activities, teaching methods and ECTS work load

	Quantity	Time (hour)	Quantity*Time (hour)
Lectures (face to face teaching)	14	3	42
Study hours out of classroom (study before and after the class)	14	4	56
Homework	0	0	0
Presentation / seminar	14	3	42
Quiz	0	0	0
Preparation for midterm exams	1	10	10
Midterm exams	1	1	1
Project (term paper)	0	0	0
Laboratuar	0	0	0
Field study	0	0	0
Preparation for final exam	1	10	10
Final exam	1	2	2
Research	2	10	20
Total work load			183
ECTS			7.50

Assessment methods and criteria

Evaluation during semester	Quantity	Percentage
Midterm exam	0	0
Quiz	0	0
Homework	1	50
Semester total		50
Contribution ratio of evaluation during semester to success		50
Contribution ratio of final exam to success		50
General total		100

Recommended and required reading

Textbook
Additional references

Files related to the course unit