Analysis of benefic entomofauna in transgenic and conventional corn crops, Córdoba-Colombia

Abstract

The adoption of genetically modified crops (GMOs) has led to the need to assess impacts on non-target organisms. For this, the impact of transgenic maize (Zea mays) on beneficial entomofauna was studied. Arthropods were collected in eight lots of conventional and transgenic maize using the techniques of Berlesse, Pitfall, Jama and Yellow traps. The diversity analysis was performed using the method proposed by Jost (2006) through three values q = 0, 1 and 2 and range-abundance curves were constructed. For the formation of the functional groups, a cluster analysis was performed using Ward’s hierarchical chaining method. 6,932 individuals were collected between conventional and transgenic crops, registering 102 taxa discriminated in 6 species, 42 genera and 54 families. The transgenic crop recorded the highest abundance with 51,60% and the conventional one 48,39%. The range-abundance curve does not indicate differences between the crops for the municipalities of Cereté and San Pelayo. The dendrogram showed eight (8) functional groups. When analyzing the true alpha diversity 0D, the eight (8) functional groups were obtained in both locations; The true diversity in conventional culture was 1D = 6,76 and the transgenic 1D = 6,83. For the 2D order it was 6,17 in conventional and 6,21 in transgenic; it can be concluded that in these results no significant differences were observed in relation to the three diversity profiles between conventional and transgenic crops.

Keywords

• agroecosystem
• biodiversity
• beneficial
• bt maize
• functional groups