Influence of grazing history on the community structure of grasshoppers of a mixed-grass prairie
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Authors: M. A. Quinn, and D. D. Walgenbach
Date: 1990
Journal: Environmental Entomology
Volume: 19
Number: 6
Pages: 1756-1766
Summary of Methods: The effect of grazing history by a variety of grazers (bison, cattle, pronghorn, bighorn and domestic sheep, mule and white-tailed deer and black-tailed prairie dogs) on grasshopper communities was studied in southwestern South Dakota. Presence/absence and estimated abundance of grasshoppers’ species were collected in August on grazed and ungrazed sites. Percent canopy coverage for all grass species, total forbs and bare ground were collected in August along with the number of grass species present at each site.
Article Summary / Main Points: Grazed sites had more grass-feeding species, while ungrazed sites had more forb-feeders and forb- and grass-feeders present. Overall, the majority of grasshoppers collected were grass-feeding species. The three most abundant grasshopper species were Opeia obscura (grass-feeder), Melanoplus sanguinipes, and Phoetaliotes nebrascensis (both forb-feeders). Vegetation species and canopy cover influenced grasshopper communities.
Vegetation Types: Northern Mixed Prairie
MLRA Ecoregions: 64 Mixed Sandy and Silty Tableland and Badlands
Agrovoc Control Words: Grazing Grasshoppers Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Documented Case History
Keywords: insecta, acrididae, grazing history, communities
Annotation: This documented case history was only conducted for one summer and has limited applicability to northern mixed grass prairies. As is true for all grazing research, the results are most directly applicable to areas with similar landscapes, type of ungulates and grasshopper species, weather conditions and season of use. These trends may be consistent across more vegetation types but caution needs to be used when applying these results outside the northern mixed grass prairie. The lack of information about grazing intensities, data on ungrazed sites and the short duration limits the wide spread applicability of this study. Jepson-Innes and Bock (1989, Oecologia 78:430-431) also showed that cattle grazing can have a positive or negative impact on grasshoppers, depending on the species and the type of forage relevant to that species. While, Joern (2004, Envrionmental Entomolgy 33:1617-1625) and Joern (2005, Ecology 86:861-873) studied the effect bison grazing and fire frequency has on grasshopper species richness; with both papers highlighting the positive correlation bison grazing has on grasshopper densities and species richness. All three papers are available on the RSIS website.
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