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- Title
Testing dose-dependent effects of stacked Bt maize pollen on in vitro-reared honey bee larvae.
- Authors
Steijven, Karin; Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf; Härtel, Stephan
- Abstract
In agricultural landscapes all over the world, honey bees are exposed to genetically modified (GM) pollen. Stacked Bt-maize varieties combine multiple Bt proteins against different insect taxa with herbicide resistance. To test for potential effects on non-target organisms, we conducted an in vitro larvae-rearing experiment where we fed increasing amounts of stacked Bt pollen to honey bee larvae. Bt pollen was equally well digested as two control maize varieties. No dose-dependent effects of Bt maize were detected in terms of survival and developmental delay. However, for prepupal weight we did find a dose-dependent response, suggesting a pleiotropic effect. Comparing this finding with the literature we conclude that the found effect is not likely to occur in a field situation. We could however show that dose-dependent effects are detectable. Our results underline the importance of testing dose-depending effects of GM plant material in an environmental risk assessment (ERA).
- Subjects
CORN pollen; HONEYBEE larvae; POLLUTION
- Publication
Apidologie, 2016, Vol 47, Issue 2, p216
- ISSN
0044-8435
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s13592-015-0392-8