Some arthropods contribute vital ecosystem services, including pollination and decomposition, while others are pests of agriculture or spread diseases. The evolutionary innovations of arthropods – the most diverse group of animals on Earth – are as numerous as they are fascinating, from fangs, silk and stingers to exquisitely colored wings and ingenious feats of engineering. The long- term goal of his research is to exploit ecological interactions for sustainable insect pest management. His research group studies relationships among plants, invertebrate herbivores, and natural enemies to understand factors that regulate populations of herbivorous insects and slugs.

John Tooker is an Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Entomology at Pennsylvania State University. Tooker’s team has revealed that Integrated Pest Management is a key component to maximizing the production of these conservation-based systems.ĭr.

Unfortunately, many farmers are inadvertently handicapping their production systems by overusing pesticides, particularly insecticides. No-till farming and diverse rotations that include cover crops are the primary ingredients in current interests in conservation agriculture. to help reduce erosion and provide other benefits. His talk was titled: Toxic Slugs Chart a Path Back to Integrated Pest Management.Ĭonservation-based agriculture is being heavily adopted in the certain regions of the U.S.

John Tooker from Penn State University spoke on Wednesday, March 4, in the FedEx Institute.

Dr adams zoo biology