Journal or Publishing Institution: Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
Study: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00244-014-0061-3#page-1
Author(s): Linn, M.D. and Moore, P.A.
Article Type: Peer Reviewed Study
Record ID: 1424
Abstract: Bt crops are one of the most commonly used genetically modified crops worldwide. Bt crops contain a gene that is derived from the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis, which produces the Cry1Ab toxin. Bt corn that contains the Cry1Ab toxin is used throughout the Midwest United States to control crop pests such as the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis). Headwater streams in regions known for intensive agriculture receive Bt corn detritus after the fall harvest, which is then consumed by a diverse community of stream invertebrates. The rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) is a common invertebrate detritivore in these headwater streams. Both isogenic and Bt corn were grown under the controlled environmental conditions of a greenhouse and, after senescence, were tested for nutritional equality. Rusty crayfish were exposed to one of several detrital treatments composed of Bt corn, Bt corn plus American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), isogenic corn alone, isogenic corn plus P. occidentalis, or P. occidentalis alone for 8 weeks. Both strains of corn were grown under the controlled environmental conditions in a greenhouse and were tested for nutritional equality after senescence. Crayfish were housed in live streams with a water temperature of 12.8 °C and a 12:12 h light-to-dark photoperiod. Survival and growth of animals within each experimental treatment were monitored each week. After 8 weeks of exposure, there was no statistically significant difference in growth between crayfish in Bt and isogenic treatments. However, survivorship was 31 % lower in the Bt treatment compared with the isogenic treatment. These results suggest that the Bt corn and isogenic corn were of equivalent nutritional value but that Bt corn does have a toxic effect on rusty crayfish during long-term exposure.
Keywords: Detritus, Headwater Stream, Corn Stalk, Allochthonous Input, Detrital Input, Decapoda, Orconectes Rusticus, Plants, Platanus Occidentalis, Zea Mays; Aquatic Animals, Aquatic Invertebrates, Aquatic Organisms, Crayfish, Genetically Engineered Organisms, Growth Rate, Maize, Nutritive Value, Shellfish, Survival, Transgenic Plants, Introduced Species, Invasive Species; Aquatic Species, Corn, Exotic Organisms, Exotic Species, Genetically Engineered Plants, Genetically Modified Organisms, Genetically Modified Plants, GEOs, GMOs, Introduced Organisms, Invasive Organisms, Invasives, Non-Indigenous Organisms, Non-Indigenous Species, Non-Native Organisms, Non-Native Species, Nonindigenous Organisms, Nonindigenous Species, Nutritional Value, Quality for Nutrition, Sycamore Plane, Transgenic Organisms, United States of America; Bacillus thuringiensis, Ostrinia nubilalis, Platanus occidentalis, Animal Growth, Chronic Exposure, Crops, Detritivores, Genes, Greenhouses, Intensive Farming, Pests, Photoperiod, Senescence, Streams, Survival Rate, Toxicity, Water Temperature, Midwestern United States; Water Temperature, Ostrinia Nubilalis, Toxicity, Platanus Occidentalis, Senescence; Toxicity, Intensive Farming, Transgenic Plants, Detritivores, Streams, Survival Rate, Photoperiod; Animals, Astacoidea, Bacterial Proteins, Endotoxins, Hemolysin Proteins, Larva, Chemical Water Pollutants, Insecticidal Crystal Protein; Growth & Development, Genetics, Drug Effects; Bt Crops, American Sycamore
Citation: Linn, M.D. and Moore, P.A., 2014. The effects of Bt corn on rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) growth and survival. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 67(3), pp.436-443.
