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GRASSHOPPER (ACRIDIDAE) — HOST PLANT ASSOCIATIONS: RESPONSE OF GRASSHOPPER POPULATIONS TO CATTLE GRAZING INTENSITY

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

J. L. Capinera
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology and Entomology, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins 80523
T. S. Sechrist
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology and Entomology, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins 80523

Abstract

Grasshopper populations were monitored for 2 years in six differentially grazed pastures of native shortgrass prairie, and correlated with floral biomass in these pastures. Total numbers of grasshoppers were significantly higher in high biomass pastures (ungrazed or lightly grazed by cattle), while numbers of grasshoppers in the subfamily Oedipodinae were significantly higher in low biomass pastures (moderately or heavily grazed). Grasshopper numbers in the phytophilous subfamilies Gomphocerinae and Catantopinae were positively correlated with grass and forb biomass, while numbers of the geophilous Oedipodinae were negatively correlated with all biomass components. It would seem possible to modify grasshopper abundance through regulation of cattle grazing intensity, but changes in abundance would also be accompanied by shifts in the grasshopper species complex.

Résumé

Les populations de criquets ont été suivies pendant 2 ans dans 6 pâturages broutés à divers degrés situés en prairie indigène à herbage court, et mises en corrélation avec la biomasse végétale dans ces pâturages. Les nombres totaux de criquets étaient plus élevés dans les pâturages à biomasse élevée (non broutés ou légèrement broutés par le bétail), alors que les nombres de criquets de la sous-famille Oedipodinae étaient significativement plus élevés dans les pâturages à biomasse réduite (modérément ou intensément broutés). Les nombres de criquets des sous-familles phytophiles Gomphocerinae et Catantopinae étaient positivement corrélés à la biomasse herbeuse et non-herbeuse, alors que les nombres d'Oedipodinae (géophiles) étaient corrélés négativement avec toutes les composantes de la biomasse. Il semble possible de modifier l'abondance des criquets en régularisant l'intensité de broutage, mais les changements seraient aussi accompagnés de changements dans la composition de la communauté de criquets.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1982

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