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Insect diversity in two burned and grazed grasslands

    • Authors: P. A. Fay

      Date: 2003

      Journal: Environmental Entomology

      Volume: 32

      Number: 5

      Pages: 1099-1104

      Summary of Methods: The effects of bison and cattle grazing on insect species richness and diversity were measured on both burned and unburned sites in Nebraska (42.7⁰ N, 99.8⁰ W) and Oklahoma (36.5⁰ N, 96.2⁰ W). Four burning and grazing treatment combinations (bison /partially burned, cattle/unburned, cattle/burned, and ungrazed/unburned) were examined. Bison were grazed year round at light to moderate utilization levels, while cattle were lightly grazed from mid-April to mid-July. Insects were sampled during the last two weeks of July.

      Article Summary / Main Points: More insects and a greater diversity of insects were found on bison grazed treatments. Burn effects and cattle treatments did not affect insect diversity. In Nebraska where bison grazing occurred at a higher stocking rate, fewer insect species were found compared to the Oklahoma bison site. Heavier grazing does appear to reduce the number of insect species. Fire paired with season-long moderate bison grazing increased insect diversity by producing a mosaic of habitat patches and unique insect communities.

      Vegetation Types: Northern Mixed Prairie Tallgrass Prairie

      MLRA Ecoregions: 65 Nebraska Sand Hills 76 Bluestem Hills

      Agrovoc Control Words: Invertebrate Grazing Fire

      Article Review Type: Refereed

      Article Type: Documented Case History

      Keywords: insects, fire, grazing, sandhills prairie, tallgrass prairie

      Annotation: This two year replicated study and its findings are widely applicable to rangelands that have had historical ungulate herbivory. As is true for all grazing research, the results are most directly applicable to areas with similar landscapes, type of ungulate, weather conditions and season of use. Inclusion of cattle grazing on both burned and unburned treatments at both sites might have assisted in determining any differences between the two sites. Insect samples over the course of year, primarily from mid-spring to mid-fall, to determine changes in the number of insect species and diversity over the course of the year would have been beneficial.

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