Grasshopper assemblage response to a restored national park (Mountain Zebra National Park, South Africa)

摘要: Twelve grassland sites were sampled inside and outside the Mountain Zebra National Park (MZNP), South Africa to assess changes in grasshopper assemblages grazing by indigenous mammals park compared domestic cattle outside. The MZNP has been restored from cattle-grazed farmland mammal parkland for 62 years. number of species families was not significantly different park, but individuals higher. Multivariate statistics did reveal any strong site groupings based on simple inside/outside comparisons, there clear vegetation characteristics other environmental variables. boundary, therefore, does determine assemblages, although intensity does. had same effect grasshoppers as outside, it level defoliation trampling that important rather than type mammal. Intensive livestock leads bush encroachment reduction grass cover and/or disappearance several species. In response this pressure, populations dropped, with localized extirpation some Vegetation composition structure, particularly height percentage cover, a significant assemblages. is thus an area localized, elevated abundance comparison surrounding farms, presumably represents situation prior current, intensive farming activities. Such abundances are maintaining soil quality hence ecological integrity landscape which poor organics nitrogen. could be viewed centre where high mobility may seek refuge anthropogenic pressures. also serves reference illustrating differences between restored-through-natural-succession anthropogenically disturbed habitats, compares desirable undesirable ecosystem herbivorous invertebrates such grasshoppers.