1,720,997 research outputs found
Applying an operating model for the environmental risk assessment in Italian Sites of Community Importance (SCI) of the European Commission Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC)
No full textThe fast development of agro-biotechnologies asks for a harmonized approach in risk analysis of GMO's releases, where "risk analysis" entails the assessment, management and communication of risk. Risk assessment consists in the evaluation of the likelihood that a hazard occurs, associated with the presence of the receptor(s) in the receiving environment, and the determination of their potential degree of exposure to the hazard. The whole process has to be both science based and applied case by case, and it involves a very complicated procedure that needs to be transformed in an operational and standardized tool. Beginning in 2003, an expert group on behalf of the Italian Ministry of the Environment elaborated an Operating Model for the Environmental Risk Assessment (OMERA) mainly addressed to scientists, companies, regulators, environmentalists, and also aiming to provide the stakeholders with a scientifically correct source of information. OMERA is based on a logic scheme, moving from the assumption that the occurring of a risk, associated to the release of a GMO into the environment, is strictly related to the presence of four elements: a) source; b) diffusion factors; c) dispersal routes; d) receptors. It comprises two main components: a conceptual model represented as a flowchart and an electronic Questionnaire (eQ) driven by a relational database (Microsoft Office Access). The eQ includes sets of questions specifically formulated for each box of the flowchart that create a "decision tree" that can be followed from the source to all the components of the conceptual model. Completing the eQ leads to the identification of the potentially affected receptors and related potential effects. Within the framework of a LIFE+ project (MAN-GMP-ITA) a multidisciplinary group was formed to validate and improve this methodology. The questionnaire has been filled simulating the release of herbicide tolerant GT73 oilseed rape and insect resistant MON810 maize in different experimental areas. The results attested that OMERA allows the collection and comparison of experimental data in a standard way and at the same time leads to the identification of receptors, potential effects and related monitoring activities specifically for the case study. The experiences described in this paper have shown the potential area of improvement of OMERA to achieve a more functional Decision Supporting System (DSS) that would give a quantitative risk evaluation and the extension to commercial fields. As for OMERA, the DSS will be user-friendly and could be easily modified and adapted to specific situations i.e risk assessment of GM crop field trials
A statistical simulation model for field testing of non-target organisms in environmental risk assessment of genetically modified plants
No full textGenetic modification of plants may result in unintended effects causing potentially adverse effects on the environment. A comparative safety assessment is therefore required by authorities, such as the European Food Safety Authority, in which the genetically modified plant is compared with its conventional counterpart. Part of the environmental risk assessment is a comparative field experiment in which the effect on non-target organisms is compared. Statistical analysis of such trials come in two flavors: difference testing and equivalence testing. It is important to know the statistical properties of these, for example, the power to detect environmental change of a given magnitude, before the start of an experiment. Such prospective power analysis can best be studied by means of a statistical simulation model. This paper describes a general framework for simulating data typically encountered in environmental risk assessment of genetically modified plants. The simulation model, available as Supplementary Material, can be used to generate count data having different statistical distributions possibly with excess-zeros. In addition the model employs completely randomized or randomized block experiments, can be used to simulate single or multiple trials across environments, enables genotype by environment interaction by adding random variety effects, and finally includes repeated measures in time following a constant, linear or quadratic pattern in time possibly with some form of autocorrelation. The model also allows to add a set of reference varieties to the GM plants and its comparator to assess the natural variation which can then be used to set limits of concern for equivalence testing. The different count distributions are described in some detail and some examples of how to use the simulation model to study various aspects, including a prospective power analysis, are provided. © 2014 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Indagine preliminare sull’artropodofauna corticicola svernante su viti infestate da Planococcus spp.
No full textOsservazioni faunistiche e bioetologiche sui tripidi delle nettarine nell’areale frutticolo metapontino
No full textIndagine geostatistica sulla distribuzione spaziale delle ooteche di Dociostaurus maroccanus
No full textEfficacy in fungicide and acaricide applications against Calepitrimerus vitis (Nalepa) (Acari: Eriophyoidea)
No full textMacro-moths as possible assessment endpoints for non-target effects of Bt-maize pollen: A faunistic study in three Italian protected areas
No full textLepidoptera are the phytophagous group most at risk of impact by insect-resistant genetically modified (GM) plants since most of these crops have been developed to express toxins to specifically target lepidopteran pests. In the case of Bt-maize cultivation, pollen grains released by GM plants could dust larval host plants growing inside or nearby maize fields, thus leading to the exposure of caterpillars to the Cry toxins. This way of exposure has been studied mainly for butterflies, whereas moths, in spite of their great diversity and abundance, were rarely considered. To evaluate the potential exposure of moth species to maize pollen in absence of Cry-expressing plants, macro-moths were sampled by means of light traps in three protected areas of Northern, Central and Southern Italy where conventional maize is among the main crops. Light traps were activated in two consecutive years (2010- 11) from the beginning of June to the end of July, a period that encompasses the anthesis of most maize cultivars grown in Italy. Overall, 11446 individuals belonging to 201 species and nine families were collected. Given that larvae of several sampled species are likely to match the criteria of potential exposure to maize pollen and susceptibility to Cry toxins, macro-moths might be considered among the potential assessment endpoints for environmental risk assessment of GM plants, especially in the vicinity of protected areas. © 2017, Bulletin of Insectology. All rights reserved
Reti ecologiche minori.Interazioni “macchia-matrice” a livello aziendale in un paesaggio agrario mediterraneo
No full textThe effects of the particle size of four different feeds on the larval growth of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)
Full text linkDiet is one of the most important factors affecting the growth and lifecycle of Tenebrio molitor L. The chemical and nutritional properties of the diet of mealworms are well studied whereas its physical properties are almost neglected. This work aims to study the effects of four different particle sizes (0–0.8, 0.8–2, 2–3 and 3–4 mm) of four different feeds (wheat bran, chicken feed pellets, grounded corn kernels and alfalfa dried pellets). Four-week-old larvae were reared on the experimental substrates for four to six weeks depending on the feed. Our results indicate that particle size can signifi cantly infl uence larval growth and that particles smaller than 2 mm improve larval growth on all feeds except alfalfa pellets. The maximum larval weight was slightly different for wheat bran (12%) when comparing particle sizes smaller than 2 mm with greater than 2 mm but increased up to 70% when corn kernels were used as feed. Signifi cant differences were found between the different feeds for growth rate, larval weight and variability in larval weight. The larvae that reached an average weight of 100 mg the fastest were those reared on wheat bran followed by chicken feed and corn kernels. Larvae reared on alfalfa pellets did not reach an average weight of 60 mg. The variability in larval growth was lowest when fed wheat bran followed by chicken feed and alfalfa pellets, and the highest variability was recorded when fed corn kernels. In conclusion, both the type (wheat bran, chicken feed and corn kernels) and particle size (< 2 mm) of the feed were important determinants of larval growt
Indagini preliminari sulla possibile identificazione di popolazioni di Psyttalia (=Opius) concolor Szépligeti (Hymenoptera Braconidae) con l'uso di marcatori RAPD
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