Invertebrate herbivory decreases along a gradient of increasing land-use intensity in German grasslands

摘要: Abstract Land use is a major driver of biodiversity loss in many taxa including species-rich invertebrate assemblages, but consequences for invertebrate-mediated processes are still little studied. We assessed herbivory 146 managed temperate grasslands across broad range land-use intensities three regions Germany. Average decreased with increasing intensity independent region from 1.3 to 0.4% leaf area assessed. Among grassland practices, the frequency mowing and degree fertilization while vertebrate grazing had no significant effect on herbivory. Thus, management not only affects diversity abundance assemblages also amount tissue consumed.