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Dual invasion analysis: a general model of novel ecological dynamics due to Bt product and resistant pests in wild settings

Theoretical Ecology volume 7, pages 181–194 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Transgenic Bt crops have been integrated as a central component of the agricultural policies of many nations across the globe due to their insecticidal properties. While focus on increased yield resulting from the use of Bt crops has overshadowed the concerns of pest populations developing resistance, resistance has been recently discovered in even highly managed fields. One issue that has received less attention is the resulting set of ecological dynamics from escaped Bt products into wild settings. I present a differential equation model of the ecological interaction between a wild plant–pest community and an invading Bt toxin-producing plant and the ensuing evolution of pest resistance. Key to this model investigation is the assumption of energy costs with both the production of Bt toxin by Bt plants and the resistance to Bt toxin exhibited by resistant pest individuals. Results show that persistence of the initial invading Bt plant population is possible through an intransitive loop dynamic. Furthermore, coexistence of wild-type plants and pests as well as Bt-producing plants and resistant pests is possible through the dynamics resultant from energy trade-offs.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Gyorgy Barabas for his various instances of assistance with coding in Mathematica and discussion of some of the ideas presented in this work. I would also like to thank the two reviewers of this manuscript. Their insightful reviews strengthened the quality of this manuscript.

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  1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Paul R. Glaum

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Correspondence to Paul R. Glaum.

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Glaum, P.R. Dual invasion analysis: a general model of novel ecological dynamics due to Bt product and resistant pests in wild settings. Theor Ecol 7, 181–194 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12080-013-0209-1

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Keywords

  • Bt crop
  • Ecological Risk
  • Escaped GMOs
  • Bt resistance
  • ODE model
  • GM crop