Insect-Plant Biochemical Interactions (16:370:517)

Description

Biochemistry of interactions between herbivorous insects and their host plants, plant-derived insect nutrients, carnivorous plants, coevolutionary adaptations to toxic phytochemicals & other plant defenses, pollination. Descriptive chemistry of plant compounds & explanation of characteristics & biological activity features of the molecules, metabolic and physiological defense mechanisms of insects, the mode of action and molecular features of target physiological systems.

Learning Goals

1. Knowledge of the major groups of herbivorous insects and host plant species.
2. Understanding of the biochemical & physiological interactions and the evolutions between the plants and the insects.
3. Understanding of the consequences of human agricultural and other activities on these interactions.
4. Ability to identify interactions and the participating plants and insects; to design experimental approaches, proper data collection and analysis for improved understanding of the interactions; to devise strategies for accommodating or utilizing these interactions for the benefit of sustained and habitable environments.
5. Communicate information to the scientific community and the public.

Testing & Grading

[% of final grade]

1. 6 online quizzes [90%]
2. Lecture attendance [10%]