The ecological research, which is being undertaken by a consortium of independent scientists is designed to study the effect, if any, that the management practices associated with genetically modified herbicide tolerant crops might have on farmland wildlife when compared with those used with non-GM crops.The research involves a comparison of key indicators of biodiversity between the GM and non-GM cropping systems, including:Soil seed bank;Arable plant diversity, biomass and estimated seed return;Field margin and boundary vegetation, noting species in flower and signs of unintentional spray drift of weed-killer during its application to the field;Gastropods: abundance, activity...