Effects of the cultivation of genetically modified Bt crops on nontarget soil organisms - Microbial Ecology in Sustainable Agroecosystems - page 195

Table 8.7 Summary of the Effects of the Cultivation of Bt Crops or Amendment with Bt Protein on Earthworms (continued)

Bt crop plant/experimental
variable Organism/activity tested Study location Protein Effect on organism(s) Source

Natural earthworm
populations including
A. caliginosa
Aporrectodea longa
Aporrectodea rosea
L. terrestris
Allolobophora chlorotica
Prosellodrilus amplisetosus
Allolobophora cupulifera

Field Bt maize (Event MON810)

with conventional tillage
(CT) or reduced tillage (RT)

Cry1Ab RT of Bt maize reduced

earthworm numbers, probably
due to herbicide applications

Krogh et al.
(2007)

Enchytraeidae Field Litterbags containing Bt or

non- Bt maize

Cry1Ab Higher numbers of Enchytraeidae

extracted from non- Bt litterbags
than Bt litterbags

Zwahlen et al.
(2007)

Enchytraeidae
Lumbricidae

Field Litterbags with plant material

from 9 different Bt or non- Bt
maize

Cry1Ab
Cry3Bb1

No difference in earthworm
numbers or degradation rate
between the 9 maize varieties

Honemann et
al. (2008)

L. terrestris
A. caliginosa

Soil
microcosm

Leaves and roots of Bt maize
(Event MON810) and non- Bt
maize

Cry1Ab Earthworms reduced the

immunoreactive properties of
Cry1Ab from maize residues

Schrader et al.
(2008)

Enchytraeus albidus Laboratory Fed Bt (N4640 Bt and

DKC5143 Bt ) and non- Bt
maize leaves

Cry1Ab
Cry3Bb1

No effect of Cry3Bb1 on survival
and reproduction; higher
survival but lower reproduction
in the Cry1Ab treatment
compared with control

Honemann
and Nentwig
(2009)

E. fetida Laboratory Fed leaves of Bt (GK19) and

non- Bt cotton

Cry1Ac No negative effects of consuming

Bt cotton leaves

Liu et al.
(2009b)

E. fetida Laboratory Fed leaves of Bt + CpTI cotton

and non- Bt cotton

Cry1Ac Leaves of Bt cotton enhanced

growth and reproduction

Liu et al.
(2009a)

A. caliginosa, Aporrectodea
trapezoides, Aporrectodea
tuberculata, and L. terrestris

Field Fields planted in Bt and

non- Bt maize

Cry1Ab
Cry3Bb1

No difference in the biomass of
juveniles or adults of any species
tested

Zeilinger et al.
(2010)

Source: Adapted and updated with permission from Icoz and Stotzky, 2008b.