Microhabitat segregation among three co-existing species of grasshoppers on a rural meadow near Seoul, South Korea

Abstract

Microhabitat segregation among grasshopper species in Asia has not been well studied. We determined the differences in the use of substrates by three common North East Asian grasshopper species co-existing on a natural meadow near Seoul, South Korea. While many Oedaleusinfernalis individuals were found on the ground, Acridacinerea and Atractomorphalata were usually observed on plants. Acridacinerea was mostly observed on the grass Zoysiajaponica (Poaceae) and Atractomorphalata was mostly found on plants from the family Asteraceae. This is the first study to provide quantitative information about microhabitat differences among some common grasshoppers in rural habitats of continental North East Asia. Future studies should focus on determining the mechanisms that produce such ecological segregation.

Big in Japan: The importance of riparian corridors for Orthoptera

“…This makes it difficult to assess the important niches which they inhabit and how to undertake effective conservation management. Research on the ecology of Asian Orthoptera is only beginning to emerge (Jung et al 2018). Therefore, targeted studies on the riparian habitats of species linked to water are needed to fully assess the value of corridors for Orthoptera.…”

“…The Arakawa levee grasslands are cut at different heights for invertebrates, management which may be highly beneficial to orthopterans such as A. cinerea and O. infernalis which have differing ecological niches (Jung et al 2018). The latter species prefers habitats with bare ground which are present on the trampled paths of levees, whereas A. cinerea has been most commonly recorded on grasses.…”

“…The latter species prefers habitats with bare ground which are present on the trampled paths of levees, whereas A. cinerea has been most commonly recorded on grasses. Species such as A. lata, observed on the east and west coast (Table 2), have been found mainly on Asteraceae plants (Jung et al 2018). In south-east Asia, six species of Orthoptera (including Acrida sp., Atractomorpha sp., and Conocephalus maculatus) have been observed visiting Asteraceae plants, feeding on the flowers (Tan et al 2017a, b, Tan andTan 2018a, b).…”

“…Given the conservation measures being put in place for Aster tripolium, such as terraces on the riverside slope of flood defenses in Tokyo, it is likely that A. lata will have plenty of favorable habitat, although further experimental research is required to investigate the connection between grasshopper and plant. The creation of shorter grassland areas (but not uniformly <10 cm) through mowing should benefit A. cinerea, a species of Poaceae (Jung et al 2018), and hotter swards (Gardiner and Hassall 2009).…”

“…A recent paper on the ecological niches of Korean Orthoptera in a meadow (Jung et al 2018) highlights the dearth of research on conservation management techniques in temperate Asia. Linear corridors, such as riparian floodplains and associated levees, are of high importance for Orthoptera in Europe (Gardiner et al 2015, Fargeaud andGardiner 2018), but no assessment exists in Japan where an extensive network of flood defense levees are present in urban areas such as Tokyo (157 km of riparian levees; Tian 2014).…”