Abstract
Butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) are correlated with many biotic and abiotic characteristics of the environment, and are widely accepted as relevant protection goals. Adverse effects on butterflies and moths through genetically modified (GM) crops have been demonstrated, by both insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant events. Thus, Lepidoptera are considered suitable bio-indicators for monitoring the potential adverse effects due to the cultivation of GM crops, and guidelines were developed under the umbrella of the Association of German Engineers VDI (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure), entitled “Monitoring the effects of genetically modified organisms (GMO) – Standardised monitoring of butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera): transect method, light trap and larval survey”. Here, the background and rationale of the VDI guidelines is presented, including a summary of the methods described in the guidelines. Special emphasis is given to the discussion of underlying reasons for the selection and adjustment of the applied methodology with respect to the GMO monitoring of day-active Lepidoptera, of night-active moths and of the recording of lepidopteran larvae, as well as to sample design and strategy. Further aspects possibly interfering with monitoring quality are treated such as landscape patterns, low species number and abundance in agro-ecosystems, or high year-to-year fluctuations of populations of Lepidoptera. Though specifically designed for GM crops, the VDI guidelines may also serve as a template to monitor the effects of a wider range of adverse factors on Lepidoptera in agriculture.
Highlights
In the European community, the Directive 2001/18/EC on the Deliberate Release into the Environment of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) stipulates a monitoring plan in order to trace and identify any harmful effects on human health or the environment of genetically modified organisms (GMO) after they have been placed on the market (EC 2001)
Butterflies and moths were the first biological indicators considered for the purpose of GMO monitoring within the VDI guidelines series
We present an overview over the VDI guidelines (VDI 2010), with special reference to the suitability of Lepidoptera as indicators, the rationale underlying the choice of the described monitoring methods and approaches as well as given problems, open questions and further recommendations
Summary
In the European community, the Directive 2001/18/EC on the Deliberate Release into the Environment of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) stipulates a monitoring plan in order to trace and identify any harmful effects on human health or the environment of GMO after they have been placed on the market (EC 2001). A bio-indicator can be defined as ‘‘a species or group of species that readily reflects the abiotic or biotic state of an environment, represents the impact of environmental change on a habitat, community, or ecosystem, or is indicative of the diversity of a subset of taxa, or of the wholesale diversity, within an area’’ (McGeoch 1998). Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) are significantly related to various abiotic and biotic characteristics of the environment, e.g. to temperature, humidity, (micro)climate, soil nutrients, vegetation, habitat structure, or landscape patterns (Oostermeijer and vanSwaay 1998, Collinge et al 2003, Aviron et al 2007a, Settele et al 2009a). The monitoring data of Lepidoptera have been successfully used to detect declines of species and species richness (Maes and Van Dyck 2001, Conrad et al 2004, Wenzel et al 2006, Nilsson et al 2008), to assess the effects of agri-environmental schemes (Aviron et al 2007b, Roth et al 2008, Merckx et al 2009a), to monitor the impact of land use change (Ricketts et al 2001, Feber et al 2007, Merckx et al 2009b, Stefanescu et al 2009, van Dyck et al 2009), to record direct effects of management measurements in arable land (Field et al 2005, 2007, Dover et al 2010), to indicate adverse effects of pesticide use (Johnson et al 1995, Longley and Sotherton 1997, Severns 2002, Russell and Schultz 2010), or to assess the effects of climate change (Settele et al 2008, VanSwaay et al 2008a, Pearman et al 2011)
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