The influence of Acridoidea on the primary production of a meadow (field experiment)

Andrzejewska, Lucyna; Wójcik, Zdzisława

Skip to main menu
Skip to search engine
Skip to content
Skip to footer

Download

Title: The influence of Acridoidea on the primary production of a meadow (field experiment)

Abstract:

This is an attempt at assessing the influence of phytophagous grasshoppers (Acridoidea) on the primary production of a meadow. Grounds for assessment were as follows: 1) losses in plant biomass due to feeding by grasshoppers, defined in a field experiment; 2) dynamics of density and biomass of grasshoppers determined in the meadow; 3) daily consumption by grasshoppers examined under laboratory conditions.Losses in plant biomass were found to depend on the density of the insects, the time at which they fed and the properties of the plant cover and species of plants on which they feed. The density of insects has a particularly great effect on extent of losses in plant biomass caused not by the insects feeding, hut by destruction of the plants.

References:

1. Andrzejewska, L. 1961 - Wyniki eksperymentalnych zagęszczeń Homoptera na łąkach - Ekol. Pol. A, 9: 439-451.
2. Andrzejewska, L. 1967 - Estimation of feeding of the sucking insect Cicadella viridis L. (Homoptera - Auchenorrhyncha) on plants (Secondary productivity of terrestrial ecosystems, Ed. K. Petrusewicz, Vol. II) -Warszawa-Kraków, 791-805 pp.
3. Kaufmann, T. 1965 - Biological studies on some Bavarian Acridoidea (Orthoptera) with special reference to their feeding habits - Ann. ent. Soc. Amer. 58: 791-801.
4. Macfadyen, A. 1967 - Methods of investigation of productivity of invertebrates in terrestrial ecosystems (Secondary productivity of terrestrial ecosystems Ed. K. Petrusewicz Vol. II) - Warszawa-Kraków, 383-412 pp.
5. Nuorteva, P. 1962 - Studies on the causes of the phytopathogenicity of Calligypona pellucida (F.) (Hom., Araeopidae) - Ann. zool. Soc. "Vanamo'' 23: 58 pp.
6. Odum, H. T. 1957 - Trophic structure and productivity of Silver Springs, Florida - Ecol. Monogr. 27: 55-112.
7. Rafes, P. M., Dinesman, A. T., Perel, T, C. 1964 - Zivotnyj mir kak komponent lesnogo biogeocenoza (Osnovy lesnoj biogeocenologii. Ed. V. J. Sukacev and I. V. Dylis) - Moskva, 216-299 pp.
8. Smalley, A. E. 1960 - Energy flow of a salt marsh grasshopper population - Ecology, 41: 672-677.
9. Tischler, W. 1955 - Synokologie der Landtiere - Stuttgart, 414 pp.
10. Traczyk, T. 1966 - Plant communities of Strzeleckie Meadows in Kampinos Forest - Ekol. Pol. A, 14: 285-299.
11. Traczyk, T. 1968 - Studies on the primary production in meadow community - Ekol. Pol. A, 16: 59-100.
12. Trojan, P. 1967 - Investigations on production of cultivated fields - (Secondary productivity of terrestrial ecosystems. Ed. K. Petrusewicz Vol. II) – Warszawa-Kraków, 545-561 pp.
13. Varley, G. G. 1967 - The effects of grazing by animals on plant productivity (Secondary productivity of terrestrial ecosystems. Ed. K. Petrusewicz, Vol. II) - Warszawa-Kraków, 773-778 pp.
14. Varley, G. G., Gradwell, G. R. 1962 - The effect of partial defoliation by caterpillars on the timber production of oak trees in England - Verh. XI int. Kongr. Ent. Wien 1960, 2: 211-214.
15. Wiegert, R. G. 1964 - Population energetics of meadow spittlebugs (Philaenus spumarius L.) as affected by migration and habitat - Ecol. Monogr. 34: 217-241.