Open AccessDoes Bt rice pose risks to non‐target arthropods? Results of a meta‐analysis in China
Author(s) -
Dang Cong,
Lu Zengbin,
Wang Long,
Chang Xuefei,
Wang Fang,
Yao Hongwei,
Peng Yufa,
Stanley David,
Ye Gongyin
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/pbi.12698
Subject(s) - biology , predation , agroecosystem , genetically modified rice , herbivore , cnaphalocrocis medinalis , detritivore , bacillus thuringiensis , fecundity , abundance (ecology) , agronomy , genetically modified crops , chilo suppressalis , ecology , biological pest control , paddy field , larva , population , lepidoptera genitalia , agriculture , biochemistry , transgene , genetics , demography , sociology , gene , bacteria
Summary Transgenic Bt rice expressing the insecticidal proteins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner ( Bt ) has been developed since 1989. Their ecological risks towards non‐target organisms have been investigated; however, these studies were conducted individually, yielding uncertainty regarding potential agroecological risks associated with large‐scale deployment of Bt rice lines. Here, we developed a meta‐analysis of the existing literature to synthesize current knowledge of the impacts of Bt rice on functional arthropod guilds, including herbivores, predators, parasitoids and detritivores in laboratory and field studies. Laboratory results indicate Bt rice did not influence survival rate and developmental duration of herbivores, although exposure to Bt rice led to reduced egg laying, which correctly predicted their reduced abundance in Bt rice agroecosystems. Similarly, consuming prey exposed to Bt protein did not influence survival, development or fecundity of predators, indicating constant abundances of predators in Bt rice fields. Compared to control agroecosystems, parasitoid populations decreased slightly in Bt rice cropping systems, while detritivores increased. We draw two inferences. One, laboratory studies of Bt rice showing effects on ecological functional groups are mainly either consistent with or more conservative than results of field studies, and two, Bt rice will pose negligible risks to the non‐target functional guilds in future large‐scale Bt rice agroecosystems in China.