Global Warming, Endangered Species,

Pollen from corn genetically engineered to produce its own insecticide, Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), can kill monarch butterfly caterpillars, according to an Iowa State University study reported by Susan Milius in Science News in mid September. The caterpillar deaths from toxic pollen that drifts up to 10 meters from the field, supports findings from an earlier study that was criticized for concluding pollen was harmful based on laboratory studies that used leaves dusted with Bt corn pollen. Critics said the dusted leaves "didn't reflect natural levels." But "Other researchers have indications that wild monarch caterpillars may be able to avoid high concentrations of Bt," Milius writes.

In another article, Milius reports that "A mathematical simulation suggests that the proliferation of crops genetically modified to resist herbicides might mean the downfall of some seed-eating birds." In other words, the simulation suggests that if a farmer changes his crop to one that is herbicide-tolerant so he can use highly potent weed killers that require use only once or twice a season, then weed-seed eating birds (skylarks in this case) would no longer have that food source

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