Predictions of Biodiversity Response to Genetically Modified Herbicide-Tolerant Crops

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 289; no. 5484; pp. 1554 - 1557
• Main Authors: Watkinson, A. R., Freckleton, R. P., Robinson, R. A., Sutherland, W. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 01-09-2000; American Association for the Advancement of Science; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Agricultural Occupations; Agriculture; Animals; Attrition (Research Studies); Aves; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Biological diversity; Biotechnology; Birds; Chenopodiaceae - genetics; Chenopodiaceae - growth & development; Crop density; Crops; Crops, Agricultural - genetics; Current density; Ecosystem; Emerging technology; Environment and pollution; Environmental impact; Food crops; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Generalities, botany, ecology, damages, economic importance; Genetic Engineering; Genetically engineered organisms behavior (microorganisms, plants, animals); genetically modified foods; Genetically modified plants; herbicide resistance; Herbicides; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Mathematics; Models, Biological; Numbers; Parasitic plants. Weeds; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Plants; Population Dynamics; Seeds; Songbirds; Statistical Distributions; Sugar beets; United Kingdom; Weed control; Weeds; United Kingdom; Great Britain; Europe; Weed; Fauna; Pesticides; Granivorous; Beta vulgaris var. saccharata; Biodiversity; Sugar plant; Herbicide; Chenopodiaceae; Chenopodium album; Vertebrata; Dicotyledones; Environment impact; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Population dynamics; Transgenic plant; Seed bank; Simulation model; Pesticide resistance; Aves; Genetically modified organism
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.289.5484.1554

We simulated the effects of the introduction of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant (GMHT) crops on weed populations and the consequences for seed-eating birds. We predict that weed populations might be reduced to low levels or practically eradicated, depending on the exact form of management. Consequent effects on the local use of fields by birds might be severe, because such reductions represent a major loss of food resources. The regional impacts of GMHT crops are shown to depend on whether the adoption of GMHT crops by farmers covaries with current weed levels.