Susceptibility to predation for different grasshoppers: an experimental study

A study was conducted in western Montana to determine the impact of different predators on grasshopper populations. By placing grasshoppers of different species, sexes, ages, and body masses on monofilament tethers in the field, rates of predation could be estimated. These rates are consistent with...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology (Durham) 1990-04, Vol.71 (2), p.624-634
Main Authors: Belovsky, Gary E., Slade, Jennifer B., Stockhoff, Brian A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult insects
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
ANTS
ARAIGNEE
ARANAS
ARANEAE
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
BIRDS
Body size
CONTROL BIOLOGICO
ENEMIGOS NATURALES
ENNEMI NATUREL
ESSAI
FEED CROPS
Female animals
FOURMI
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
GRAMINEAS
GRAMINEE
GRASSES
Grasshoppers
HORMIGAS
HYMENOPTERA
LUTTE BIOLOGIQUE
Male animals
MONTANA
NATURAL ENEMIES
Nymphs
OISEAU
ORTHOPTERA
PAJAROS
PARCOURS
PESTS OF PLANTS
PLAGAS DE PLANTAS
PLANTAS FORRAJERAS
PLANTE FOURRAGERE
Predation
Predators
PREDATORS OF INSECT PESTS
Protozoa. Invertebrata
PRUEBAS
RANGELANDS
RAVAGEUR DES PLANTES
RODENTS
ROEDORES
RONGEUR
SPIDERS
TERRENOS DE PASTURA
TRIALS
Vegetation
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Summary:A study was conducted in western Montana to determine the impact of different predators on grasshopper populations. By placing grasshoppers of different species, sexes, ages, and body masses on monofilament tethers in the field, rates of predation could be estimated. These rates are consistent with other estimates obtained from population studies in the same environment, but provide a far more detailed assessment of which grasshoppers are most vulnerable to predators and which predators are most important. Immature individuals are more vulnerable at small body sizes and adults are more vulnerable at large body sizes; this is because the principal predators on immature individuals are arthropods, and on adults, vertebrates. Male grasshoppers were 2-3 times as vulnerable as females. The subfamily Oedopodinae was more vulnerable than the Gomphocerinae or Melanoplinae. Predation rates indicate that predators are only able to impact seriously (reduce life expectancy below the suitable abiotic period for existence) the largest Oedopodinae, making predation of little consequence for most grasshopper populations in this environment.
ISSN:0012-9658
1939-9170
DOI:10.2307/1940316