Responses of grasshopper assemblages to long-term grazing management in a semi-arid African savanna

摘要: Abstract A study on grasshopper assemblage response to seasonal grazing, rotational continuous resting and grazing was undertaken in the eastern Karoo, South Africa. Rotationally-grazed sites supported highest number abundance of species while continuously-grazed had lowest. Spring-grazed winter-grazed were most similar, with continuously-rested being next similar these. showed least similarity other sites. There clear groupings species, associated rotationally-grazed Continuously-grazed a different assemblage. The assemblages followed definite gradients measured environmental variables. occurred along increasing bare ground, summer-grazed shrub cover soil temperature. Spring-grazed, autumn-grazed, characterized by high vegetation density. Grasshopper dominance differed between Summer-grazed Pycnodictya flavipes (40%), Pseudogmothela sp. (32%) significance variable management systems for maintaining floral diversity is discussed. Rotational this arid system suited plant insect diversity.