Field deposition of Bt transgenic corn pollen: lethal effects on the monarch butterfly

• Published in: Oecologia 2000-10, Vol.125 (2), p.241-248
• Main Authors: Hansen Jesse, Laura C, Obrycki, John J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adults; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Asclepias syriaca; Bacillus thuringiensis; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Corn; crops; Danaidae; Danaus plexippus; Environment and pollution; Environmental degradation: ecosystems survey and restoration; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetically engineered organisms behavior (microorganisms, plants, animals); Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Insect larvae; Larvae; Larval development; leaves; Lipids; Mortality; Plant Animal Interactions; planting; Pollen; sublethal effects; Toxins; Transgenic plants; wind; Zea mays
• ISSN: 0029-8549; 1432-1939
• DOI: 10.1007/s004420000502

We present the first evidence that transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn pollen naturally deposited on Asclepias syriaca; common milkweed, in a corn field causes significant mortality of Danaus plexippus L. (Lepidoptera: Danaidae) larvae. Larvae feeding for 48 h on A. syriaca plants naturally dusted with pollen from Bt corn plants suffered significantly higher rates of mortality at 48 h (20±3%) compared to larvae feeding on leaves with no pollen (3±3%), or feeding on leaves with non-Bt pollen (0%). Mortality at 120 h of D. plexippus larvae exposed to 135 pollen grains/cm² of transgenic pollen for 48 h ranged from 37 to 70%. We found no sub-lethal effects on D. plexippus adults reared from larvae that survived a 48-h exposure to three concentrations of Bt pollen. Based on our quantification of the wind dispersal of this pollen beyond the edges of agricultural fields, we predict that the effects of transgenic pollen on D. plexippus may be observed at least 10 m from transgenic field borders. However, the highest larval mortality will likely occur on A. syriaca plants in corn fields or within 3 m of the edge of a transgenic corn field. We conclude that the ecological effects of transgenic insecticidal crops need to be evaluated more fully before they are planted over extensive areas.