Effects of three-year cultivation of Cry1Ab-expressing Bt maize on soil microarthropod communities

Farm‐scale evaluation of the impact of Cry1Ab Bt maize on canopy nontarget arthropods: a 3‐year study

“…The study was conducted during the years 2009, 2010, and 2011 using the same experimental set‐up described in Arias‐Martín et al . (). In brief, the size of the experimental maize field was 3.5 ha, and it was located in San Fernando de Henares (Madrid, Spain).…”

“…In brief, the size of the experimental maize field was 3.5 ha, and it was located in San Fernando de Henares (Madrid, Spain). Temperature and rainfall in the study area were registered (see supplementary figure in Arias‐Martín et al ., ). A randomized block design was used, involving 3 blocks and 2 treatments that were the maize varieties: transgenic maize plants (DKC 6451 YG, event MON810) expressing the Cry1Ab toxin (Bt maize) and its near‐isogenic line DKC 6450 (non‐Bt maize).…”

“…Specifically, no negative effects on above plant and ground‐dwelling predators were associated with the cultivation of Bt maize (Bt‐176 and MON810) in farm‐scale multiyear studies performed in different geographical areas (de la Poza et al ., ; Farinós et al ., ; Albajes et al ., ). Similarly, no adverse effects were reported for MON810 on the soil microarthropod decomposer community (Arias‐Martín et al ., ), and for Bt‐176 on herbivores (Lumbierres et al ., ; Pons et al ., ) and parasitoids (Pons & Stary, ). The data compiled from these field studies have been used for the identification of representative taxa to be used as surrogates for environmental monitoring purposes (EFSA, ).…”

“…This is the case of the springtail Entomobrya spp. Rondani (Collembola: Entomobryidae) (Arias‐Martín et al ., ), which can be found in the aerial parts of plants at certain times of their life cycle. At the same time, canopy herbivores and detritivores can transfer the toxins to higher trophic levels, since they serve as food or host to predators and parasitoids commonly found in maize foliage.…”

Sublethal exposure, insecticide resistance, and community stress

“…Pre-market assessments of the risk associated with Bt crops are a current regulatory requirement in several countries, which encourages assessment of community stress. However, their community effects tend to be negligible, and the short-term assessment is a likely reason for that [45,[49][50][51][52]. Nonetheless, post-marketing 5-10 year assessments of community effects are also required in some countries, and such data sets still must be duly explored.…”