An introduction to the farm-scale evaluations of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Firbank, L. G., Heard, M. S., Woiwod, I. P., Hawes, C., Haughton, A. J., Champion, G. T., Scott, R. J., Hill, M. O., Dewar, A. M., Squires, G. R., May, M. J., Brooks, D. R., Bohan, D. A., Daniels, R. E., Osborne, J. L., Roy, D. B., Black, H. I. J., Rothery, P. and Perry, J. N. 2003. An introduction to the farm-scale evaluations of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops. Journal of Applied Ecology. 40 (1), pp. 2-16. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2664.2003.00787.x

AuthorsFirbank, L. G., Heard, M. S., Woiwod, I. P., Hawes, C., Haughton, A. J., Champion, G. T., Scott, R. J., Hill, M. O., Dewar, A. M., Squires, G. R., May, M. J., Brooks, D. R., Bohan, D. A., Daniels, R. E., Osborne, J. L., Roy, D. B., Black, H. I. J., Rothery, P. and Perry, J. N.
Abstract

1. Several genetically modified herbicide-tolerant (GMHT) crops have cleared most of the regulatory hurdles required for commercial growing in the United Kingdom. However, concerns have been expressed that their management will have negative impacts on farmland biodiversity as a result of improved control given by the new herbicide regimes of the arable plants that support farmland birds and other species of conservation value. 2. The Farm-Scale Evaluations (FSE) project is testing the null hypothesis that there is no difference between the management of GMHT varieties of beet, oilseed rape and maize and that of comparable conventional varieties in their effect on the abundance and diversity of arable plants and invertebrates. The FSE also aims to estimate the magnitude and consider the implications of any differences that are found. 3. The experimental design of the FSE is a randomized block, with two treatments allocated at random to half-fields. The target sample is around 60-75 fields for each crop, selected to represent variation of geography and intensity of management across Britain. The experimental crops are managed by commercial farmers as if under commercial conditions. 4. Biodiversity indicators have been selected from plants and terrestrial invertebrates to identify differences between crop management regimes that may result in important ecological changes over larger scales of space and time. Field sampling is at fixed points, mainly along transects from the field boundary, starting before the crop is sown and continuing into following crops. 5. Synthesis and applications. The FSE is best considered as an investigation into the effects of contrasting crop management regimes on farmland biodiversity, rather than a study of the effects of genetic modification. It could become a model for future studies of ecological effects of the way we use and manage agricultural land.

Keywordsbiodiversity conservation; Ecology
Year of Publication2003
JournalJournal of Applied Ecology
Journal citation40 (1), pp. 2-16
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2664.2003.00787.x
Open accessPublished as non-open access
Funder project or code433
515
509
510
Project: 4239
Research into spatio-temporal dynamics for ecological and agricultural populations
Project: 4192
Behavioural ecology of pollinators
ISSN00218901
PublisherWiley

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