Effects of landscape and habitat quality on Orthoptera assemblages of pre-alpine calcareous grasslands

Löffler, Franz; Fartmann, Thomas

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2017.07.029

Cited by 47 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 48 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This development will not only result in a loss of plant species, but also contribute to the decline in the biodiversity of primary consumers such as leafhoppers and other arthropods (cf. Pryke et al ., ; Helbing et al ., ; Löffler & Fartmann, ). Due to the strong impact of land use on plant and insect diversity (Marini et al ., ; Bazelet & Samways, ; Littlewood et al ., ; van Klink et al ., ), the management of the Bromus stands should be carefully handled.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The invasion of Bromus erectus alters species diversity of vascular plants and leafhoppers in calcareous grasslands

Poniatowski

Hertenstein²,

Raude³

et al. 2018

Insect Conserv Diversity

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

1. The most common mechanism of biological invasions is an increase in competition, which usually results in the loss of biodiversity. The invasion of Bromus erectus (Syn. Bromopsis erecta) in calcareous grasslands of western and central Europe is well-documented. Although, it is largely unknown to what extent this development affects biodiversity.2. In this study, we analysed the effects of B. erectus invasion on vascular plant and leafhopper assemblages of calcareous grasslands. At each of the 15 randomly selected sites, we compared one plot with stands of Bromus (presence) and one without (absence) (paired sampling design).3. The invasion of B. erectus affected vegetation structure as well as vascular plant and leafhopper assemblages. Despite similar abiotic site characteristics, Bromus plots had a higher turf height, vegetation density, and litter cover. Additionally, we recorded a much lower species richness in Bromus plots than in absence plots in all analysed groups of vascular plants. A similar pattern was found for leafhoppers. Absence plots exhibited a higher species richness of habitat and diet specialists than Bromus plots. The overall abundance of all leafhopper species was highest in presence plots, whereas that of diet specialists peaked in absence plots.4. We conclude that the ongoing invasion of B. erectus will lead to a strong structural homogenisation with negative effects on plant and insect diversity. One possible management tool might be a goal-driven rough grazing with sheep especially in spring when B. erectus is much more palatable than in summer and autumn.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The invasion of Bromus erectus alters species diversity of vascular plants and leafhoppers in calcareous grasslands

Poniatowski

Hertenstein²,

Raude³

et al. 2018

Insect Conserv Diversity

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In accordance with Badenhausser and Cordeau (2012), we suggest that management practices particularly influence the abundance of orthopterans. The likely reason for this is that the abundance of orthopterans is generally more sensitive to disturbances than their species richness (Löffler and Fartmann, 2017;Torma et al, 2018).…”

Section: The Effect Of Management On Plant-dwelling Arthropod Assemblmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species and functional diversity of arthropod assemblages (Araneae, Carabidae, Heteroptera and Orthoptera) in grazed and mown salt grasslands

Torma

Császár

Bozsó

et al. 2019

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Grazing and mowing are widely applied management practices in semi-natural grasslands, which are one of the most important habitats for biodiversity conservation in Europe. Due to the decline in extensively grazing livestock numbers, an increasing area of formerly grazed grasslands has being used as mown grasslands. However, we have scarce information on how arthropod assemblages are influenced by mowing in formerly grazed pastures. We assessed the effects of mowing compared to grazing on the species richness, abundance and functional diversity of arthropods in three grassland complexes in Hungary. Since 2005, these salt grasslands have been divided into two management units: extensive grazing management has been continued in one part, while annual late cutting has been established in the other part. In each management unit five sites were sampled. Spiders and ground beetles were sampled using pitfall traps, orthopterans and true bugs were sampled using sweep nets twice before cutting in 2015. In total, the data relating to 12,576 adult individuals of 334 species were analysed using mixed-models. Plant-dwelling true bugs and orthopterans responded more sensitively to mowing than ground-dwelling spiders and ground beetles. Beside the general negative effect of mowing on the species richness and abundance of plant-dwelling arthropods, the shifts in the community weighted mean values of these assemblages suggested the importance of the body size, trophic behaviour and dispersal ability of species in the functional response of these assemblages to the different management regimes. Ground beetles and spiders were rather influenced by the differences in the moisture conditions and vegetation properties. Presumably, strong abiotic stressors such as drought can partly override management effects on ground-dwelling arthropods. The effect of uniform and simultaneous biomass removal on large areas, and the direct mortality caused by mowing was the most disadvantageous for plant-dwelling arthropods. Based on our results, traditional management practices should be prioritized in grassland conservation, as alternative management practices might be less effective in preserving grassland biodiversity.

show abstract

“…Previous studies revealed that species richness of various taxonomic communities is significantly influenced by vegetation in the habitat, both on the local and landscape scales (Gonthier et al 2014;Sutcliffe et al 2015;Löffler and Fartmann 2017). Here, by integrating both previous and current findings, we evaluated how the spatial heterogeneity of farmlands affects the regional diversity of the Orthoptera community on multiple spatial scales.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…The effectiveness of multi-environmental land use has been determined on the landscape scale for such taxa as Orthoptera, with distinct habitat segregation tendencies (Weking et al 2016). For instance, Löffler and Fartmann (2017) reported that the number of grassland Orthoptera species increased with habitat heterogene- ity and was correlated with patch size at the landscape level. Yoshio, Kato, and Miyashita (2009) revealed that landscape factors significantly affected four of the five selected Orthoptera species (Teleogryllus emma, Oxya yezoensis, Ruspolia lineosa, Conocephalus maculatus).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of field margins and other uncultivated fields on Orthoptera assemblages in the mountainous paddy field area of northeast Japan

Takeuchi

Irie

2019

Zoology and Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To understand how farmlands help maintain biodiversity, we investigated the relationship between habitat heterogeneity and Orthoptera community composition on multiple spatial scales. First, we determined the impact of 12 environmental variables on the Orthoptera community diversity by sampling 37 quadrats in uncultivated fields over a broad spatial scale. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) demonstrated that environmental parameters influenced species composition. The first two canonical axes were associated with forest cover, grass (including harvested dried grass in some cases), bare or paddy fields, and plants with tall stems. Secondly, we conducted a local-scale survey of Orthoptera assemblages in an operational farm unit consisting of paddy fields, fallow fields, marginal grass fields, and secondary forests. Eleven Orthoptera species (46%) were found exclusively on specific vegetation types. Thirdly, we carried out a habitat-scale survey to elucidate the correspondence between consecutive spatial changes in vegetation and Orthoptera community composition in a paddy field and surrounding marginal fields. Even within narrower ranges, the compositional habitat heterogeneity induced changes in the dominant Orthoptera species composition. These results indicate that a high degree of habitat segregation occurs among Orthoptera species in field margins and in uncultivated fields, and that farmland management significantly affects spatial distribution of Orthoptera.

show abstract

Effects of landscape and habitat quality on Orthoptera assemblages of pre-alpine calcareous grasslands

Cited by 47 publications

References 48 publications

The invasion of Bromus erectus alters species diversity of vascular plants and leafhoppers in calcareous grasslands

The invasion of Bromus erectus alters species diversity of vascular plants and leafhoppers in calcareous grasslands

Species and functional diversity of arthropod assemblages (Araneae, Carabidae, Heteroptera and Orthoptera) in grazed and mown salt grasslands

Effects of field margins and other uncultivated fields on Orthoptera assemblages in the mountainous paddy field area of northeast Japan

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About