Preliminary selection of non-target Lepidoptera species for ecological risk assessment of Bt canola in Sicily

Abstract

It is essential to assess the environmental risk that Bt canola resistant to Lepidopteran pests may hold and to study its effect on species assemblages that fulfil a variety of ecosystem functions. Environmental risk assessment can be improved through the use of an ecological model which can be applied to a specific environment, so that local species can be classified functionally and prioritized to identify potential test species. Several other Lepidoptera species are also directly exposed to Bt toxin. In this paper an ecological approach was followed for selection of non-target Lepidoptera species for ecological risk assessment of Bt canola in Sicily, using data collected over a one-year period on Lepidoptera biodiversity on different habitats. Non-target Lepidoptera most likely to be affected were identified and prioritized for future testing and inclusion in risk assessments. Through use of the selection matrix, knowledge gaps were identified for future research and guidance for the design of ecologically realistic experiments.