Beleid en debat

Two parcels of the Lavaux vineyard area, western Switzerland, were studied to assess to which extent the widely used herbicide, glyphosate, and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) were retained in the soil or exported to surface waters. Our results revealed elevated glyphosate and AMPA concentrations at 60 and 80 cm depth at parcel bottoms, suggesting their infiltration in the upper parts of the parcels and the presence of preferential flows in the studied parcels. Indeed, the succession of rainy days induced the gradual saturation of the soil porosity, leading to rapid infiltration through macropores, as well as surface runoff formation. Furthermore, the presence of more impervious weathered marls at 100 cm depth induced throughflows, the importance of which in the lateral transport of the herbicide molecules was determined by the slope steepness. Mobility of glyphosate and AMPA into the unsaturated zone was thus likely driven by precipitation regime and soil characteristics, such as slope, porosity structure and layer permeability discrepancy. Important rainfall events (>10 mm/day) were clearly exporting molecules from the soil top layer, as indicated by important concentrations in runoff samples. The mass balance showed that total loss (10–20%) mainly occurred through surface runoff (96%) and, to a minor extent, by throughflows in soils (4%), with subsequent exfiltration to surface waters.

Recently, legislative decisions withdrew or temporarily suspended the use of neonicotinoids and fipronil as seeds tanning in many countries because of their endocrine-disrupting activity imputable to the bees’ toxicity. In this study, the occurrence of acetamiprid, fipronil, clothianidin, flonicamid, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam was detected in 66 samples of commercial treated corn seeds, collected in the Italian market in the frame of ministerial institutional quality control activity. Because of the lack of a validated analytical protocol for neonicotinoid detection in seeds, a routinely suitable liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) analytical method was developed and statistically validated on fortified corn seeds. Survey results demonstrated that 88% of the investigated seed samples showed the presence of residues of clothianidin, fipronil, thiamethoxam and thiacloprid, either individually or simultaneously, with values that ranged from about 0.002 to 20 mg kg−1, which evidenced the alarming illicit use of these pesticides in seed treatments.

Chemical suppression of arthropod herbivores is the most common approach to plant protection. Insecticides, however, can cause unintended, adverse consequences for non-target organisms. Previous studies focused on the effects of pesticides on target and non-target pests, predatory arthropods, and concomitant ecological disruptions. Little research, however, has focused on the direct effects of insecticides on plants. Here we demonstrate that applications of neonicotinoid insecticides, one of the most important insecticide classes worldwide, suppress expression of important plant defense genes, alter levels of phytohormones involved in plant defense, and decrease plant resistance to unsusceptible herbivores, spider mites Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae), in multiple, distantly related crop plants. Using cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), corn (Zea mays) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants, we show that transcription of phenylalanine amonia lyase, coenzyme A ligase, trypsin protease inhibitor and chitinase are suppressed and concentrations of the phytohormone OPDA and salicylic acid were altered by neonicotinoid insecticides. Consequently, the population growth of spider mites increased from 30% to over 100% on neonicotinoid-treated plants in the greenhouse and by nearly 200% in the field experiment.

In Frankreich war die Aussaat von Genmais bislang nicht erlaubt. Allerdings hat das oberste Verwaltungsgericht dieses Anbauverbot gekippt. Nun sucht die Regierung nach juristischen Mitteln, um die Maissorte MON810 weiterhin von französischen Äckern fernzuhalten. "Diese Entscheidung schockiert uns zutiefst", sagt Olivier Belval. Er ist der Präsident der Nationalen Imker-Union in Frankreich. Zum wiederholten Mal bekam der US-Konzern Monsanto recht, diesmal vor dem obersten Verwaltungsgericht, dem französischen Staatsrat. So wankt das Verbot für den Anbau des genmanipulierten Mais MON810 erneut, das zunächst unter der konservativen Regierung 2007 und 2008 verhängt und das 2012 erneuert worden war.

Charttechnischer Ausblick 07.08.13: Das sieht nicht mehr wirklich gesund aus. Tagelang schon kämpft SYNGENTA im Tageschart um eine Bodenbildung um 370 CHF, der Kampf endet scheinbar zugunsten der Bären. Noch liegt um 366 CHF ein letzter seidener Faden, darunter muss man sich aber sofort in Richtung 350 CHF orientieren. Wohingegen ab 375 CHF die Bullen zurück im Spiel wären, mit Ziel 395 CHF dann. Letztes Update 02.07.13: Das bemerkenswerte am heutigen Kaufsignal im Tageschart von SYNGENTA ist der Umstand, dass es weit und breit das einzige seiner Sorte ist. Während sich andernorts aber nur bearische Fortsetzungsmuster zeigen, bricht diese Aktie heute über sein noch junges Zwischenhoch und peilt damit das nächste Kursziel von 390 CHF an. Enttäuschend wäre hingegen ein Rückfall unter 365, in diesem Fall rechnen wir mit einem sofortigen Rutsch in Richtung 350 CHF.

Der Deutsche Berufs- und Erwerbsimkerbund (DBIB) und der Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUND) appellieren an die deutschen Landwirte, bei der anstehenden Raps-Aussaat freiwillig auf Pestizide zu verzichten, die zur Gruppe der Neonikotinoide gehören. Diese vor allem für Bienen gefährlichen Nervengifte werden zum Beizen des Saatgutes eingesetzt und sind nach Erkenntnissen von Toxikologen 6000 bis 7000mal giftiger als DDT. Untersuchungen ergaben, dass Neonikotinoide bei Bienen und Vögeln zu Einschränkungen der Orientierungsfähigkeit und zu Störungen des Immunsystems führen können. Außerdem töten diese Pestizide viele Insektenarten, die Vögeln als Nahrung dienten. Die EU-Mitgliedsstaaten hatten im April dieses Jahres beschlossen, ab 1. Dezember die drei gefährlichsten Neonikotinoide zunächst für zwei Jahre vom Markt zu verbannen. Betroffen von diesem Teilverbot sind die Wirkstoffe Clothianidin, Imidacloprid sowie Thiamethoxam. „Neonikotinoide sind für das Bienensterben und das Verschwinden von Vögeln in landwirtschaftlich geprägten Regionen mit verantwortlich. Wenn bei der Raps-Aussaat jetzt auf diese Agrargifte verzichtet wird, dann könnten sich Bienen- und Vögelpopulationen langsam wieder erholen“, sagte der BUND-Vorsitzende Hubert Weiger.

Lift a rock or log anywhere in the country and chances are you'll see beetles from many species scurrying beneath it. These unassuming creatures are often overlooked as more glamorous insects hog the spotlight. But a recent study shows that the populations of an important group of beetles are dwindling, and this could end up being just as problematic as the better-publicised problems of bees and butterflies. The research, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, found that three quarters of the beetle species examined had declined in number over the last 15 years. The abundance of half of these species had fallen at a rate equivalent to 30 per cent per decade. Scientists warn that these declines, comparable to those seen in butterflies and moths over the same period, are of serious conservation concern. The study focused on ground beetles or 'carabids', the surface-dwelling group that most people will picture if asked to imagine a beetle. Many of these species perform valuable tasks in their ecosystems that we'd miss if they disappeared.

Sharp-tailed grouse counts in the northwest, the bird's primary range in Minnesota, were similar to 2012 while counts in the east-central region declined significantly, according to Minnesota DNR officials. During the spring mating season, observers look for and count male sharptails displaying on traditional mating areas, called leks or dancing grounds. Those figures are used to estimate the state's sharp-tailed grouse population. Despite several years of declining numbers, this year's statewide average of 9.2 grouse counted per dancing ground was similar to the long-term average since 1980. The 2009 average of 13.6 was as high as during any year since 1980. During the last 25 years, the sharp-tailed grouse index has been as low as seven birds counted per dancing ground. Overall, sharptail populations appear to have declined over the long term as a result of habitat deterioration. In recent years, the DNR has increased prescribed burning and shearing that keep trees from overtaking the open brush lands that sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus, previously: Tetrao phasianellus) need to thrive.