Effects of Bt Cotton on Ladybird Beetle
Author Information
Author(s): Li Yunhe, Romeis Jörg, Wang Ping, Peng Yufa, Shelton Anthony M.
Primary Institution: Cornell University
Hypothesis
Does Bt cotton affect the fitness of the ladybird beetle Coleomegilla maculata?
Conclusion
The study found that Bt cotton does not negatively impact the ladybird beetle Coleomegilla maculata.
Supporting Evidence
- C. maculata showed no significant differences in survival or development when fed on Bt cotton-reared T. ni.
- ELISA confirmed the presence of Cry proteins in C. maculata but at significantly lower levels than in T. ni.
- Direct feeding bioassays indicated that C. maculata was not adversely affected by high concentrations of Cry proteins.
Takeaway
This study shows that ladybird beetles are safe around Bt cotton, which is a type of genetically modified plant.
Methodology
The study used tritrophic bioassays to assess the effects of Bt cotton on ladybird beetles by feeding them larvae of Trichoplusia ni that were reared on either Bt or control cotton.
Limitations
The study primarily focused on one species of ladybird beetle and may not represent effects on other non-target organisms.
Participant Demographics
The study involved laboratory-reared ladybird beetles collected from a long-term colony.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.003 for Cry2Ab; p=0.004 for Cry1Ac
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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