Moth diversity in three biofuel crops and native prairie in Illinois

Abstract

The expanding demand for biofuel feedstock may lead to large-scale conscription of land for monoculture production of biofuel crops with concomitant substantial negative impacts on biodiversity. We compared moth diversity in light-trap samples from corn, miscanthus, switchgrass and native prairie, to determine whether there is an observable relationship between plant species diversity and moth abundance and diversity. Moth alpha diversity was highest in prairie and was higher in switchgrass than in the other two biofuel crops. Beta diversity generally was low among the biofuel crops, and prairie shared lower beta diversity with switchgrass than with corn or miscanthus. Analysis of variance showed no significant differences in moth abundance per species among treatments. The alpha and beta diversity index findings are consistent with those of other studies on arthropods in biofuel crops and provide evidence to suggest that large-scale conversion of acreage to biofuel crops may have substantial negative effects on arthropod biodiversity both within the cropping systems and in the surrounding landscape.

Cellulosic biofuel contributions to a sustainable energy future: Choices and outcomes

“…Zangerl et al (45), for example, contrasted arthropod detritivore communities in native prairie, switchgrass, and miscanthus systems and found surprisingly few differences in detritivore community structure or function. Lepidopteran alpha (within-field) diversity, in contrast, was greatest in native prairie (2.9 species per trap night, on average), intermediate in switchgrass (2.4 species), and lower in miscanthus and corn (1.8 species) (46). Gardiner et al (47) quantified insect pollinator and predator communities in fields of corn, switchgrass, and restored prairie in Michigan and Wisconsin; they found that although the numbers of bee species were similar, individual species were more abundant in switchgrass and prairie than in corn by a factor of 3 to 4.…”

Potential impact of genetically modified Lepidoptera‐resistant Brassica napus in biodiversity hotspots: Sicily as a theoretical model

“…Many butterfly species are threatened worldwide, mainly as a consequence of habitat destruction (Bonelli et al ., ), and that many more will probably become threatened in the near future if current ecological trends continue (Balletto et al ., ; Settele et al ., ). Moreover it has been demonstrated that the intensive cultivation of oilseed rape decreases Lepidoteran biodiversity (in this case moths) both in the fields and the surrounding landscape (Harrison & Berenbaum, ).…”

“…Its host species are several Brassicaceae, including S. arvensis and B. oleracea . In addition, we have to remember that many other non‐target organisms can be phytophagous on Brassicaceae (Chifflet et al ., ; Harrison & Berenbaum, ; Mesa et al ., ).…”

Quantifying biodiversity impacts of climate change and bioenergy: the role of integrated global scenarios

“…Brin et al 2012; Danielsen et al 2009;Dhondt et al 2004;Fry and Slater 2011;Rowe et al 2011). Findings show that bioenergy impacts depend on the type of bioenergy (Harrison and Berenbaum 2012;Haughton et al 2009;Myers et al 2012;Questad et al 2011;Robertson et al 2011aRobertson et al , 2012Werling et al 2011), management activities (Myers et al 2012), reference habitat (Felten and Emmerling 2011;Questad et al 2011) and landscape structure Robertson et al 2011bRobertson et al , 2013; Fig. 1).…”