Spatial analysis of the occurrence of protected butterflies in six European biogeographic regions as a tool for the environmental risk assessment of Bt maize

By

Dolezel, Marion
Bartel, Andreas
Heissenberger, Andreas

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2018

Original Publication

BioRisk : biodiversity & ecosystem risk assessment

Volume

13

Pages

31-52

Subjects

biogeographical regions , Bt maize , environmental risk assessment , European Union , Genetically modified plants , Habitats Directive , non-target Lepidoptera , protection goals , spatial analysis

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/biorisk.13.20688

 

Abstract

In the environmental risk assessment (ERA) of genetically modified plants (GMP), the consideration of the different environments where genetically modified plants (GMP) will be commercially grown (the receiving environments) plays a crucial role. In addition, relevant protection goals which may be adversely affected by the GMP have to be considered during the ERA. Using a literature- and GIS-based approach, distribution data of protected lepidopteran species listed in Council Directive 92/43/EEC and of maize cultivation was used in order to evaluate potential spatial overlaps between GM maize and protected non-target Lepidoptera in different biogeographical regions (BGR) of the EU. Each BGR has its peculiarity regarding maize cultivation and the distribution of protected butterflies. The lepidopteran fauna of the Pannonian BGR is particularly sensitive due to large maize cultivation shares and wide distribution of protected butterflies within this BGR. For the BGRs evaluated potential, spatial exposures of protected butterflies to GM maize cannot be excluded. This study shows that the suggested approach is a useful tool for the consideration of EU-wide protected species in different receiving environments during the problem formulation of the ERA of GMPs.