Spider web survey or whole plant visual sampling? Impact assessment of<i>Bt</i>corn on non-target predatory insects with two concurrent methods

Tóth, Ferenc; Árpás, Krisztina; Szekeres, Dóra; Kádár, Ferenc; Szentkirályi, F.; Szénási, Ágnes; Kiss, J.

doi:10.1051/ebr:2005006

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 13 publications

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“…Toth et al ( 2004 ) compared the applicability of two arthropod sampling methods, namely “spider-web survey” and “whole plant visual sampling”, in a risk assessment study. Both methods were able to detect significant differences in the quantity of predatory insects in Bt (MON810) versus isogenic plots, but not in the same taxa.…”

Section: Review Of the Current Scientific Literature On The Impact Ofmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is the German suspension of MON810 maize cultivation scientifically justified?

Ricroch

Bergé²,

Kuntz

2009

Transgenic Res

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We examined the justifications invoked by the German government in April 2009 to suspend the cultivation of the genetically modified maize varieties containing the Bt insect-resistance trait MON810. We have carried out a critical examination of the alleged new data on a potential environmental impact of these varieties, namely two scientific papers describing laboratory force-feeding trials on ladybirds and daphnia, and previous data on Lepidoptera, aquatic and soil organisms. We demonstrate that the suspension is based on an incomplete list of references, ignores the widely admitted case-by-case approach, and confuses potential hazard and proven risk in the scientific procedure of risk assessment. Furthermore, we did not find any justification for this suspension in our extensive survey of the scientific literature regarding possible effects under natural field conditions on non-target animals. The vast majority of the 41 articles published in 2008 and 2009 indicate no impact on these organisms and only two articles indicate a minor effect, which is either inconsistent during the planting season or represents an indirect effect. Publications from 1996 to 2008 (376 publications) and recent meta-analyses do not allow to conclude on consistent effects either. The lower abundance of some insects concerns mainly specialized enemies of the target pest (an expected consequence of its control by Bt maize). On the contrary, Bt maize have generally a lower impact than insecticide treatment. The present review demonstrates that the available meta-knowledge on Cry1Ab expressing maize was ignored by the German government which instead used selected individual studies.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11248-009-9297-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Review Of the Current Scientific Literature On The Impact Ofmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is the German suspension of MON810 maize cultivation scientifically justified?

Ricroch

Bergé²,

Kuntz

2009

Transgenic Res

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A 3-year field-scale monitoring of foliage-dwelling spiders (Araneae) in transgenic Bt maize fields and adjacent field margins

Ludy

Lang

2006

Biological Control

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Transgenic crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis toxins and biological control

2006

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The area devoted to growing transgenic plants expressing insecticidal Cry proteins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is increasing worldwide. A major concern with the adoption of Bt crops is their potential impact on nontarget organisms including biological control organisms. Regulatory frameworks should advocate a step-wise (tiered) approach to assess possible nontarget effects of Bt crops. Laboratory and glasshouse studies have revealed effects on natural enemies only when Bt-susceptible, sublethally damaged herbivores were used as prey or host, with no indication of direct toxic effects. Field studies have confirmed that the abundance and activity of parasitoids and predators are similar in Bt and non-Bt crops. In contrast, applications of conventional insecticides have usually resulted in negative impacts on biological control organisms. Because Bt-transgenic varieties can lead to substantial reductions in insecticide use in some crops, they can contribute to integrated pest management systems with a strong biological control component.

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Spider web survey or whole plant visual sampling? Impact assessment ofBtcorn on non-target predatory insects with two concurrent methods

Cited by 6 publications

References 13 publications

Is the German suspension of MON810 maize cultivation scientifically justified?

Is the German suspension of MON810 maize cultivation scientifically justified?

A 3-year field-scale monitoring of foliage-dwelling spiders (Araneae) in transgenic Bt maize fields and adjacent field margins

Transgenic crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis toxins and biological control

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