Conservation management of coastal dunes for Orthoptera has to consider oviposition and nymphal preferences

Abstract

Dune and heathland ecosystems can harbour a multitude of specialized insect species. To assess the habitat quality of these ecosystems, the presence of specialized insect species may act as a useful indicator. The Orthoptera species Myrmeleotettix maculatus, Decticus verrucivorus, and Platycleis albopunctata present such umbrella species. Because knowledge of oviposition and nymphal habitats of these species is insufficient, we conducted a combined study consisting of an outdoor oviposition experiment and a field survey analyzing nymphal habitat preferences during summer 2009 on the Baltic island of Hiddensee, Germany. The oviposition experiment showed, that all three species mostly avoid oviposition under lichens (= mature grey dunes). M. maculatus preferred bare ground for oviposition, D. verrucivorus favoured both bare ground and mosses, and P. albopunctata laid most eggs into mosses. Young nymphs of both M. maculatus and P. albopunctata preferred initial grey dunes with a high proportion of bare ground and moss-rich grey dunes. Old nymphs were related to moss-rich and lichen-rich grey dunes with more dense vegetation. Based on our results, early seral stages of dune succession with bare ground and mosses as keystone structures are crucial for the conservation of the three studied umbrella species. Because old nymphs and adults additionally require more dense grey dune vegetation or adjacent heath stands, practical dune and heathland management measures should aim to maintain a mosaic-like pattern of different grey dune and dwarf-shrub vegetation stands.

Effects of habitat and landscape features on grassland Orthoptera on floodplains in the lower reaches of the Tisza River Basin

“…The importance of humidity for egg and larval development of orthopterans is emphasized in several studies (e.g. Hodek, 2003;Wünsch et al, 2012), and Ensifera generally need more water for egg development than Acrididae (Ingrisch & Köhler, 1998). Differences between Caelifera and Ensifera with regard to vegetation characteristics are also reported by e.g.…”

Reconstruction of the environmental history of a coastal insular system using shallow marine records: the last three millennia of the Cíes Islands (Ría de Vigo,NWIberia)

“…; Wünsch et al . ) existing at this time on the nearby coasts. This reconstruction is consistent with the higher concentrations of other characteristic dune taxa microremains (e.g.…”

“…11) and is likely to be related to the occurrence of brown moss remains (van Geel et al 1989;Miola et al 2006). Its very high relative abundances could be evidence of large surfaces of moss-rich grey dunes and humid dune slacks (JNCC, 2004;Ramil-Rego et al 2008;W€ unsch et al 2012) existing at this time on the nearby coasts. This reconstruction is consistent with the higher concentrations of other characteristic dune taxa microremains (e.g.…”

The role of a mound-building ecosystem engineer for a grassland butterfly

“…Furthermore, such sites act as important microhabitats for disturbance-dependent invertebrate species (e.g. Gröning et al 2007;Warren and Büttner 2008;Wünsch et al 2012). Many butterfly species require a specific vegetation structure as they are dependent on certain microclimatic conditions for larval development (García-Barros and Fartmann 2009).…”