Three-Year Field Monitoring of Cry1F, Event DAS-Ø15Ø7–1, Maize Hybrids for Nontarget Arthropod Effects

Abstract

Field studies were conducted over a 3-yr period to investigate the potential effects of cultivating transgenic maize hybrids containing a Cry1F insect-resistant protein on nontarget arthropod abundance. The narrow spectrum of activity of Cry1F against a subset of lepidopteran pest species would not suggest broad-spectrum effects on nontarget arthropods. However, because of the insecticidal nature of Bt proteins, an alternate hypothesis is that some nontargets may be affected by exposure to the protein. To examine this hypothesis at the field level, monitoring for nontarget organism abundance was initiated at four locations across the U.S. Corn Belt from 2004 through 2006. At each location, paired fields (approximately 0.8 ha each) of commercial Cry1F maize hybrids and isogenic nontransgenic control hybrids were planted. Sampling methods used to monitor nontarget organisms included visual surveillance, sticky cards, pitfall traps, and litterbags. Data were analyzed using multivariate analyses to look for a general community level response to the treatments. Analysis of variance was conducted on individual taxa to detect differences distinct from the primary community response. Community level analyses of the nontarget arthropod abundance showed no significant impact on community abundance when comparing Bt with non-Bt maize fields. Analyses of the individual taxa also showed no significant differences in abundance between Bt and non-Bt fields. Results of these studies confirm earlier laboratory testing and support the hypothesis that Cry1F maize does not produce adverse effects on nontarget arthropods occurring in maize fields.