title: No effect of Bt-transgenic rice litter on the meiobenthos community in field ditches.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The non-target effect of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins in aquatic ecosystems is crucial to improve the present assessment of Bt-transgenic plants, particularly where crops are cultivated near aquatic ecosystems. We conducted decomposition experiments during two growing seasons to determine the effects of Bt-transgenic rice litter with and without insecticide application on the meiobenthos communities in a field ditch.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The community composition of meiobenthos colonised on leaf litter was not significantly different between Bt and non-Bt rice. The abundance of meiobenthos colonising leaves differed between insecticide application and control, and this insecticide effect interacted with rice type. No Bt toxin was detected in field ditch water. Leaf decomposition and nutrient content were comparable for both Bt and non-Bt rice with or without insecticide application.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bt-transgenic rice litter had no effect on the meiobenthos community composition in field ditches, but the chronic persistence of transgenic litter in nature needs to be taken into account at large scales in aquatic ecosystems. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yongbo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Zaozhuang University, Zaozhuang, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Wanxiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchang, China.
authors.forename: Yuyong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Caiyun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Junsheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000235:genetics*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002681:China; D017753:Ecosystem; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D007306:Insecticides; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004731:Endotoxins; D007306:Insecticides
keywords: Bt-transgenic rice; aquatic ecosystems; meiobenthos community; non-target effects; plant litter