Influence of Bt maize to epigeic collembolan communities

Abstract: Epigeic collembolan communities were studied in maize plots at the locality Borovce (N 48°34.831´ E 17° 43.302´) in western Slovakia. The soil type of the area was loamy luvic chernozem. Hybrids included DK440 (conventional) and DKC4442YG (Bt maize, event Mon 810) sown in 10 repetitions each. Plot size was 10 x 10 m and plots were isolated by 5 m wide strips of barley. Pitfall traps were collected on 11 dates from June to October 2012 and the captures were analysed after 7 days of installation. Entomobrya handschini (together 549 specimens in all traps of non-Bt maize and 672 specimens in Bt maize), Entomobrya marginata (419 and 466), Lepidocyrtus violaceus (147 and 161), Orchesella cincta (24 and 32), Xenylla welchi (25 and 17), Orchesella albofasciata (11 and 9), and Pseudosinella octopunctata (3 and 1) were the collembolan species identified in pitfall traps. The results showed that occurrence of springtails did not depend on the maize hybrid. Thus cultivation of genetically modified maize did not influence collembolan populations. The populations of springtails generally increased in periods when the amount of rainfall was higher.