Abstract
Short-rotation forestry with genetically modified (GM) trees has the potential to increase the share of energy from renewable sources and thus help mitigating climate change. In addition, GM trees could also reduce the use of harmful chemicals in the forest industry, but the environmental risks associated with GM trees remain largely unknown. The objective with this study is to determine if genetic modification of trees (Aspen) can influence saproxylic (wood-inhabiting) beetles and fungi and, as a consequence, decomposition processes. The reason for the focus on this issue is that, up to date, the potential effect of GM trees on saproxylic organisms is virtually unknown. The potential environmental drawbacks is that expression of new traits (e.g. Bt toxins) or altered natal traits (e.g. lignin) in GM trees is potentially associated with environmental risks including, e.g. influence on important ecosystem processes such as decomposition and non-target organisms involved in the decomposition process. Dead wood from deciduous trees, e.g. Aspen, are already scarce in our landscapes, resulting in negative effect on biodiversity. A commercial use of GM aspen could affect dead wood quality for saproxylic organism potentially constitute an ecological trap, thus accelerate negative impact on biodiversity. We will conduct a combination of laboratory and field experiment using Aspen clones genetically modified for insect resistance (Bt toxins) and altered lignin properties
Sweden