title: Field response of aboveground non-target arthropod community to transgenic Bt-Cry1Ab rice plant residues in postharvest seasons.
abstract: Risk assessments of ecological effects of transgenic rice expressing lepidoptera-Cry proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) on non-target arthropods have primarily focused on rice plants during cropping season, whereas few studies have investigated the effects in postharvest periods. Harvested rice fallow fields provide a critical over-wintering habitat for arthropods in the Chinese rice ecosystems, particularly in the southern region of the country. During 2006-08, two independent field trials were conducted in Chongqing, China to investigate the effects of transgenic Cry1Ab rice residues on non-target arthropod communities. In each trial, pitfall traps were used to sample arthropods in field plots planted with one non-Bt variety and two Bt rice lines expressing the Cry1Ab protein. Aboveground arthropods in the trial plots during the postharvest season were abundant, while community densities varied significantly between the two trials. A total of 52,386 individual insects and spiders, representing 93 families, was captured in the two trials. Predominant arthropods sampled were detritivores, which accounted for 91.9% of the total captures. Other arthropods sampled included predators (4.2%), herbivores (3.2%), and parasitoids (0.7%). In general, there were no significant differences among non-Bt and Bt rice plots in all arthropod community-specific parameters for both trials, suggesting no adverse impact of the Bt rice plant residues on the aboveground non-target arthropod communities during the postharvest season. The results of this study provide additional evidence that Bt rice is safe to non-target arthropod communities in the Chinese rice ecosystems.
authors.affiliation: College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China, yybai2001@yahoo.com.cn.
authors.forename: Yao-Yu
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Rui-Hong
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Gong-Yin
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Fangneng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Wangila
authors.forename: Jin-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jia-An
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D060054:Agrobacterium / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001181:Arthropods / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D002681:China; D017753:Ecosystem; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012621:Seasons; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis