Grasshopper densities on grazed and ungrazed rangeland under drought conditions in southern Idaho
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Authors: D. J. Fielding, and M. A. Brusven
Date: 1995
Journal: Great Basin Naturalist
Volume: 55
Number: 4
Pages: 352-358
Summary of Methods: Differences in grasshopper densities on light to moderately grazed and ungrazed rangelands under drought conditions were studied in south-central Idaho (between 42Ⱐ37.5’ and 43Ⱐ00’ N; 114Ⱐ30’ and 114Ⱐ00’ W). Paired sites, between areas without grazing for 10 years and grazed under a rest-rotation system were used. Grasshoppers were sampled three times over the summer. Estimations of percent ground cover and plant species composition, cover of cryptogams, cattle dung and bare ground were also made at the same time grasshoppers were collected.
Article Summary / Main Points: Grazed sites had less vegetation and grass cover, with more bare ground and cattle dung. Twenty-three species of grasshoppers were identified, with the majority of species comprised of three families. Families of Melanoplinae and Gomphocerinae decreased on grazed sites. The Oedipodinae family were not affected by grazing or ground cover vegetation.
Vegetation Types: Sagebrush Steppe
MLRA Ecoregions: 11 Snake River Plains
Agrovoc Control Words: Caelifera Rangelands Grazing
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Documented Case History
Keywords: orthoptera, acrididae, melanoplus sanguinipes, livestock grazing, drought, population density, range management
Annotation: This study is a case history with no replication and therefore has limited applicability to areas outside the sagebrush steppe community studied. Researchers did a good job of relating ground cover conditions to the preferences of certain species of grasshoppers, with the exception of distinguishing perennial grass from crested wheatgrass findings, which appeared contradictory. As the authors noted, since grasshopper densities increase with precipitation in southern Idaho, and since the study occurred during a drought year, more research is needed to determine the effects of non-drought years and years that have increased grasshopper populations on rangeland conditions.
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