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No effect of Bt‐ transgenic rice litter on the meiobenthos community in field ditches
Author(s) -
Liu Yongbo,
Jiang Wanxiang,
Liang Yuyong,
Zhao Caiyun,
Li Junsheng
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.4446
Subject(s) - litter , biology , bacillus thuringiensis , meiobenthos , paddy field , agronomy , ditch , ecosystem , acetochlor , plant litter , genetically modified maize , genetically modified crops , pesticide , abundance (ecology) , ecology , transgene , bacteria , genetics , gene , biochemistry
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. CONCLUSION 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