Comparative Diversity of Arthropods on Bt Maize and Non-Bt Maize in Two Different Cropping Systems in South Africa Author(S): J
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Comparative Diversity of Arthropods on Bt Maize and Non-Bt Maize in two Different Cropping Systems in South Africa Author(s): J. Truter , H. Van Hamburg and J. Van Den Berg Source: Environmental Entomology, 43(1):197-208. 2014. Published By: Entomological Society of America URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1603/EN12177 BioOne (www.bioone.org) is a nonprofit, online aggregation of core research in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences. BioOne provides a sustainable online platform for over 170 journals and books published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Web site, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/page/terms_of_use. Usage of BioOne content is strictly limited to personal, educational, and non-commercial use. Commercial inquiries or rights and permissions requests should be directed to the individual publisher as copyright holder. BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research. TRANSGENIC PLANTS AND INSECTS Comparative Diversity of Arthropods on Bt Maize and Non-Bt Maize in two Different Cropping Systems in South Africa 1,2 1 1,3 J. TRUTER, H. VAN HAMBURG, AND J. VAN DEN BERG Environ. Entomol. 43(1): 197Ð208 (2014); DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/EN12177 ABSTRACT The biodiversity of an agroecosystem is not only important for its intrinsic value but also because it inßuences ecological functions that are vital for crop production in sustainable agricultural systems and the surrounding environment. A concern about genetically modiÞed (GM) crops is the potential negative impact that such crops could have on diversity and abundance of nontarget organisms, and subsequently on ecosystem functions. Therefore, it is essential to assess the potential environmental risk of the release of a GM crop and to study its effect on species assemblages within that ecosystem. Assessment of the impact of Bt maize on the environment is hampered by the lack of basic checklists of species present in maize agroecosystems. The aims of the study were to compile a checklist of arthropods that occur on maize in South Africa and to compare the diversity and abundance of arthropods and functional groups on Bt maize and non-Bt maize. Collections of arthropods were carried out during two growing seasons on Bt maize and non-Bt maize plants at two localities. Three maize Þelds were sampled per locality during each season. Twenty plants, each of Bt maize and non-Bt maize, were randomly selected from the Þelds at each site. The arthropods collected during this study were classiÞed to morphospecies level and grouped into the following functional groups: detritivores, herbivores, predators, and parasitoids. Based on feeding strategy, herbivores and predators were further divided into sucking herbivores or predators (piercingÐsucking mouthparts) and chewing herbivores or predators (chewing mouthparts). A total of 8,771 arthropod individuals, comprising 288 morphospecies and presenting 20 orders, were collected. Results from this short-term study indicated that abundance and diversity of arthropods in maize and the different functional guilds were not signiÞcantly affected by Bt maize, either in terms of diversity or abundance. KEY WORDS arthropod, biodiversity, diversity index, GM maize, South Africa One concern about growing genetically modiÞed ticidal properties, it is necessary to determine the (GM) crops is the potential negative impact that such arthropod species occurring in maize ecosystems. This crops could have on diversity and abundance of non- information will be useful in the evaluation of the target organisms (Eckert et al. 2006). The biodiversity possible impact of Bt maize on nontarget organisms at of an agroecosystem is not only important for its in- different trophic levels. Assessment of the impact of Bt trinsic value but also because it may inßuence eco- maize on the environment is hampered by the lack of system functions that are vital for sustainable crop basic knowledge regarding arthropod diversity in production and for the surrounding environment maize ecosystems. There is also a need to identify (Hilbeck et al. 2006). Species assemblages in agroeco- indicator or representative organisms and develop systems fulÞll a variety of ecosystem functions that simple methods that combine suitability for ecological may be negatively impacted if changes occur in these risk assessment under Þeld conditions and cost efÞ- assemblages (Dutton et al. 2003). For example, guild ciency of assessments (Eckert et al. 2006). rearrangement due to the elimination of a target pest Several studies related to the potential impact of Bt and the subsequent changes in guild structure can lead crops on nontarget organisms have examined the in- to the development of secondary pests. Therefore, it teraction of one or more species under laboratory is essential to assess the potential environmental risk conditions (Sims 1995; Hilbeck et al. 1998a,b; Dutton that the release of a GM crop may hold and to study et al. 2002, 2003, 2004; Meissle and Romeis 2009; Li and its effect on species assemblages within that ecosystem Romeis 2010). Some results indicated no signiÞcant (Van Wyk et al. 2007). To identify possible secondary effects on nontarget organisms, whereas others re- pests and nontarget effects of GM crops with insec- ported negative effects. While most Þeld studies assessing impacts of Bt 1 Unit of of Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West crops have focused on limited numbers of species University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa. (Wilson et al. 1992, Hardee and Bryan 1997, Wold et 2 DuPont-Pioneer, Outspan Building, 1006 Lenchen Ave, Centu- rion 0046, South-Africa. al. 2001, Liu et al. 2003, Schoenly et al. 2003, Wolfen- 3 Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected]. barger et al. 2008), it is important to also study effects 0046-225X/14/0197Ð0208$04.00/0 ᭧ 2014 Entomological Society of America 198 ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY Vol. 43, no. 1 on arthropod communities. The few studies previously during this study was from the event MON810 ex- conducted on arthropod community diversity were on pressing Cry1Ab protein for control of the stem bor- Bt rice in China (Li et al. 2007), Bt cotton in the United ers, Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) States (Torres and Ruberson 2007), and Bt maize in and Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Cram- Spain (De la Poza et al. 2005). These three studies bidae), and its near-isogenic non-Bt counterpart. Pest concluded that Bt crops did not have adverse effects pressure (target and nontarget) is usually very high in on arthropod diversity at the Þeld level. the Vaalharts area, where Bt maize has been planted The aims of this study were to describe the biodi- since 1998. In the Tshiombo area, pest pressure is versity of arthropods on maize by compiling a check- usually much lower than in the Vaalharts area, and list of species that occur on maize in South Africa and resource-poor farmers had not been introduced to GM to compare the diversity and abundance of arthropods crops before this study. and the functional groups on Bt maize and non-Bt Three maize Þelds were sampled for each of the two maize. localities once during each season (12 Þelds in total per site). Sampling was not done on the same Þeld over two seasons because of crop rotation practices Materials and Methods followed at both sites. Twenty plants, each of Bt maize Collections of arthropods were carried out during and non-Bt maize (from the refuge area of the Þeld), the 2008Ð2009 and 2009Ð2010 growing seasons in Bt were randomly selected from the Þelds at each site maize and non-Bt maize Þelds at two localities, i.e., (480 plants in total). Each plant was bagged, and all Vaalharts in the Northern Cape province (S24Њ 48Ј 693, arthropods were removed later and placed in 70% E27Њ 38Ј 330) and Tshiombo in the Limpopo province ethanol in 40-ml bottles. Each plant was carefully (22Њ 48Ј05Љ S, 30Њ 27Ј07Љ E), South Africa. Sampling was inspected for any arthropods by removing leaves, leaf done only once on each Þeld, 2Ð3 wk after anthesis, sheaths, and husk leaves and ears. All arthropods were and took place during April and November (in both collected and kept such that abundance and diversity 2008 and 2009) at Vaalharts and Tshiombo, respec- could be calculated on a per-plant basis. tively. During this study the focus was on collecting Arthropods were classiÞed to morphospecies level plant-dwelling arthropods that occur on plants only and grouped into functional groups to provide infor- during the reproductive stage of plant growth. Other mation on the potential exposure of species to Bt toxin studies have shown that arthropod diversity during produced by Bt maize. Where possible, morphospe- this plant growth stage, particularly on plant ears, cies were further identiÞed to family and species level. capture different trophic levels, and thus could be a Morphospecies can be deÞned as a group of individ- good method to sample a comprehensive arthropod uals that are considered to belong to the same species community (Eckert et al. 2006). Dively (2005) also on the basis of morphology alone (Lawrence 2011). showed that arthropod biodiversity on maize during Data Analysis. The Shannon diversity index (H1), the period after anthesis is very high compared with which describes diversity (species richness and even- the rest of the growing period. ness), and the Margalef richness index (d), which Study Areas. Tshiombo. This area is a low-input describes species richness, were used to analyze data. small-farming area where crop production is done on The Shannon diversity and Margalef richness indices small Þelds (1Ð2 ha) on which the main crop, maize, were calculated using Primer 5 (Version 5.2.9, is often rotated with groundnut, brassicas, or sweet PRIMER-E Ltd., Plymouth, United Kingdom; Clarke potato.