Patterns in Orthoptera biodiversity. I. Adaptations in ecological and evolutionary contexts

Bidau, Claudio J.

doi:10.12976/jib/2014.2.20

Cited by 25 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 220 publications

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“…As the diet of pygmy grasshoppers generally consists of algae, moss, fungi and lichen that thrive on wetter conditions (Paranjape et al 1987, Hochkirch et al 2000, Kočárek et al 2008, Bidau 2014, Kuřavová and Kočárek 2015, Kuřavová et al 2017a, our findings also suggested that greater abundance of food sources in wetter microhabitats can account for higher abundance of pygmy grasshoppers in general. We also found that specifically, the wetness of dicot leaf litter is strongly positively correlated with the abundance of pygmy grasshoppers.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Ground dwelling pygmy grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) in Southeast Asian tropical freshwater swamp forest prefer wet microhabitats

Tan¹,

Yeo²,

Hwang³

2017

JOR

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Tetrigidae are an ancient group of grasshoppers and, similar to many other insects, have associations and preferences for specific microhabitats and habitats. The ecology of pygmy grasshoppers in Southeast Asia is generally under studied, especially in threatened habitats such as freshwater swamp forests. A study in Nee Soon Swamp forest, Singapore, was conducted to investigate association of limno-terrestrial pygmy grasshoppers with waterbodies and microhabitat. Specifically, we looked at the abundance and species assemblage of all pygmy grasshoppers. We correlated the abundance with major gradients of variation summarizing substrate and vegetation types along belt transects where sampling was performed. We found that pygmy grasshoppers in general are associated with wetter microhabitat conditions rather than the main streams in the swamp forest (i.e., water bodies). This is despite differences in microhabitat conditions of belt transects nearer to and further away from the main streams. We also found that pygmy grasshopper abundance is associated with the wetness of dicot leaf litter. We inferred that the abundance of food resources and suitability for egg development may explain their preference for wet microhabitats. We also found that the same patterns applied for adults and juveniles, suggesting that there is no demographic difference or ontogenetic shift in microhabitat association. Lastly, the adult assemblage can also be correlated to microhabitats. Based on our findings, we propose that pygmy grasshoppers can also be suitable bioindicators for the freshwater swamp forest, owing to their sensitivity to microhabitat conditions.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Ground dwelling pygmy grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) in Southeast Asian tropical freshwater swamp forest prefer wet microhabitats

Tan¹,

Yeo²,

Hwang³

2017

JOR

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“…Orthoptera (grasshoppers, locusts, and bush crickets) is an abundant and species‐rich order that occurs from sea level up to almost 5,000 m above sea level (a.s.l. ; Alexander , Bidau ). We thereby focused not only on body size, which is related to fecundity, but also on morphological traits that are related to dispersal (wing length), jumping ability (hind femur length), and predator detection (eye size).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond body size: consistent decrease of traits within orthopteran assemblages with elevation

Tiede

Hemp

Schmidt

et al. 2018

Ecology

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Morphological traits provide the interface between species and their environment. For example, body size affects the fitness of individuals in various ways. Yet especially for ectotherms, the applicability of general rules of interspecific clines of body size and even more so of other morphological traits is still under debate. Here we tested relationships between elevation (as a proxy for temperature) and productivity with four ecologically relevant morphological traits of orthopteran assemblages that are related to fecundity (body size), dispersal (wing length), jumping ability (hind femur length), and predator detection (eye size). We measured traits of 160 orthopteran species that were sampled along an extensive environmental gradient at Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), spanning elevations from 790 to 4,410 m above sea level (a.s.l.) with different levels of plant productivity. For traits other than body size, we calculated the residuals from a regression on body length to estimate the variation of traits irrespective of body size. Bayesian analyses revealed that mean body size of assemblages, as well as the means of relative wing length, hind femur length, and eye size, decreased with increasing elevation. Body size and relative eye size also decreased with increasing productivity. Both phylogenetic relationships, as well as species-specific adaptations, contributed to these patterns. Our results suggest that orthopteran assemblages had higher fecundity and better dispersal and escape abilities, as well as better predator detection at higher temperatures (low elevations) than at low temperatures (high elevations). Large body sizes might be advantageous in habitats with low productivity because of a reduced risk of starvation. Likewise, large eye size might be advantageous because of the ability to detect predators in habitats with low vegetation cover, where hiding possibilities are scarce. Our study highlights that changes in temperature and productivity not only lead to interspecific changes in body size but are also related to independent changes of other morphological traits that influence the ecological fit of organisms in their environment.

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“…Among Orthoptera, we can distinguish carnivorous (part of Tettigonioidea), omnivorous (especially Grylloidea) and herbivorous (Acridoidea, Tetrigoidea and part of Tettigonioidea) food strategies. Most species are generalists, and their specialization to some taxon of plant or animal food is rare (Gangwere ; Bidau ). Various environmental factors, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variation in the diet of Tetrix tenuicornis (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae)

Kuřavová

Kočárek

2015

Entomological Science

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Many animals change their diet during the season according to food availability. The current field study determined whether the groundhopper Tetrix tenuicornis (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae), which specializes on moss and detritus, changes its diet during the season under conditions in which food components are constantly available. Dietary differences of T. tenuicornis were studied through the season, from May to October, by alimentary tract analyses. Detritus and moss (phylloids) dominated the alimentary tract contents, and other components were found in only minor amounts. The diversity of moss species in the alimentary tract varied during the season, and more moss species were consumed in spring and summer than in autumn. Diet was affected by developmental stage, sex (females consumed more food than males), population and abiotic factors. The rate at which detritus was consumed was significantly affected by the ambient temperature but the rate at which moss was consumed was mainly affected by relative humidity. Later instars consumed greater amounts of detritus than younger instars, and this difference corresponded to body size.

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Patterns in Orthoptera biodiversity. I. Adaptations in ecological and evolutionary contexts

Cited by 25 publications

References 220 publications

Ground dwelling pygmy grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) in Southeast Asian tropical freshwater swamp forest prefer wet microhabitats

Ground dwelling pygmy grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) in Southeast Asian tropical freshwater swamp forest prefer wet microhabitats

Beyond body size: consistent decrease of traits within orthopteran assemblages with elevation

Seasonal variation in the diet of Tetrix tenuicornis (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae)

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