DIETS OF THREE COMMON GRASSHOPPERS (ORTHOPTERA: ACRIDIDAE) INHABITING DESERT GRASSLAND

1988 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. 415-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Pfadt ◽  
J. A. Lockwood ◽  
T. M. Foppe
Keyword(s):  
Host Plants ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Bouteloua Gracilis ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Mixed Diet ◽  
Desert Grassland ◽  
Grasshopper Species ◽  
Erodium Cicutarium ◽  
A Site

AbstractExamination of crop contents of three species of grasshoppers in outbreak densities on desert grassland of eastern Arizona revealed that all three were ingesting a mixed diet of plants. Crops of nymphal and adult Aulocara elliotti (Thomas) contained an average of 67 and 93% dry weight of grass, respectively, placing this species in both the mixed graminivorous and the graminivorous categories. The preferred host plant of A. elliotti was Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Lag. but it was not an essential item, as a large population developed in a site where this grass was virtually lacking but other perennial grasses were present. Crops of nymphs and adults of both Melanoplus sanguinipes (Fabricius) and M. cuneatus Scudder contained chiefly forbs (88–100% of dry weight). The principal host plants were Erodium cicutarium (L.) L’Hér., Lupinus brevicaulis Wats., Microsteris gracilis (Hook.) Greene, and Plantago purshii Roem. & Schult. Both species of Melanoplus fit into the forbivorous category and evidence indicated they were in competition with each other for food. All three grasshopper species showed preferences for particular plant species and as a consequence had significantly different frequencies of plant taxa in their crop contents from what were present in the field.

scholarly journals The effects of livestock grazing and climate variation on vegetation and grasshopper communities in the northern Chihuahuan Desert

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Lightfoot
Keyword(s):  
Chihuahuan Desert ◽  
Climate Variation ◽  
American Southwest ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Desert Grassland ◽  
Grasshopper Species ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Semi Arid

Grasshoppers are important herbivores of North American semi-arid grasslands and shrublands, and vegetation and climate are key factors controlling their species compositions and population dynamics. Domestic livestock grazing is a historic and a current landscape-scale ecological perturbation that has caused reductions of perennial grasses and increases in woody shrubs and weedy annual herbs in desert grassland communities. Climate variation also affects vegetation and grasshopper production, and the combined effects of livestock grazing and climate variation on vegetation and grasshoppers have not been adequately studied in the American Southwest. I measured vegetation and grasshoppers for five years at a series of five semi-arid sites in the northern Chihuahuan Desert to evaluate the interactive effects of short-term livestock grazing and climate variation on plant and grasshopper community structure and species abundances. The study sites ranged from shrub dominated to grass dominated landscapes, with livestock fence lines separating land that was grazed at 30% annual forage utilization, and lands on the other sides of the fences excluded from grazing for at least 20 years. I assigned grasshopper species to life-form guilds based on their ecomorphologies and their microhabitat substrate uses that I observed. A wet spring/dry summer El Niño event occurred at the beginning of the study, and a dry spring/wet summer La Niña event occurred at the end of the study. Livestock grazing changed plant and grasshopper species compositions and abundances significantly during those wet years, further favoring annual forbs, annual grasses and non-graminicole grasshoppers on grazed lands during wet years, while favoring perennial grasses and graminicoles on non-grazed lands also during wet years. The biotic communities at all sites probably supported more perennial grasses and more graminicoles prior to European settlement and livestock grazing that began over a century before this study.

BOTANICAL COMPOSITION AND PRODUCTIVITY OF PERENNIAL GRASSES AGROPHYTOCENOSES WITH TETRAPLOID MEADOW CLOVER

1970 ◽  
pp. 59-62
Author(s):  
N. I. Kasatkina ◽  
Zh. S. Nelyubina
Keyword(s):  
Dry Weight ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Lotus Corniculatus ◽  
Specific Weight ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
The Third

The biological properties of plants, their mutual relations under different growth conditions and at different periods of their life, must be known for obtaining highly productive agrophytocenoses with participation of a meadow clover (Trifolium pratense L.). Botanical composition and fodder productivity of perennial grasses in agrocenoses with participation of meadow tetraploid clover Kudesnik were studied in 2014-2017. It was revealed that in the first and second years of use the agrophytocenosis, the yield of green mass was formed due to meadow tetraploid clover, the share of its participation in the first mowing was at level of 71-87% and 64-97% respectively. Specific weight of clover in multispecies agrocenoses considerably decreased by the third year of use: in the first mowing up to 32-68%, in the second - up to 8-52%. At the same time, the percentage of long-term herbaceous grasses increased: meadow timothy (Phleum pratense L.) - up to 34-54%, eastern galega (Galéga orientális Lam.) - up to 33%, changeable alfalfa (Medicago x varia Martyn) - up to 22-54%, lotus corniculatus (Lotus corniculatus L.) - up to 14-19%. The proportion of weed admixture in single-species clover planting was 12%, in agrocenoses - 2-14%. The grass mixtures clover + timothy and clover + alfalfa + timothy were less infested by weeds. High yield of dry weight of single-species sowing of meadow tetraploid clover was obtained in the first two years of use - 7.8 and 6.5 tons / ha, respectively. By the third year of use, the productivity of clover has decreased to 2.9 t / ha. On average, for three years of use, the highest yield (6.2-6.3 t / ha) was formed by agrocenoses meadow tetraploid clover + meadow timothy and meadow tetraploid clover + changeable alfalfa + meadow timothy.

Productivity of the forage of perennial grasses and their mixtures on drained peatlands

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (91) ◽  
pp. 74-79
Author(s):  
V.H. Kurhak ◽  
M.I. Shtakal ◽  
V.M. Shtakal
Keyword(s):  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Bromus Inermis ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Left Bank ◽  
Peat Soils ◽  
High Productivity

There showed the productivity, chemical composition of feed and the timing of mowing of grass and variety mixes of permanent grasses on drained peat soils of Left Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The presence of early rip­ ened seeded grass provides a uniform supply use mowed mass from middle May until the end of September and the productivity of lands, which ranges from 10 to 14 t/ha of dry weight, metabolizable energy – 100.0 – 130.0 GJ and feed units 7-11 t/ha. Additional manuring of N90 on the background Р45К120 is effective at the start of second year of use. On the organization of hay conveyors of different ripening time herbages is possible to extend the optimal tim­ ing of mowing of green mass to 25-35 days. Best among the early-maturing grass crops are Dactylis glomerata va­ riety Kyivska rannia-1 with Alopecurus pratensis variety Sarnenskiy ranniy or its mixture with Bromus inermis and Festuca pratensis. With medium ripening – pure sowing eastern fescue of variety Lyudmila, Phalaris arundinacea variety Sarnenski-40, Bromus inermis variety Arsen and their compounds. High productivity of late-ripening herb­ age is provided by the inclusion in the composition of grass mixtures of Phleum pratense L. variety Vyshgorodska and Dactylis glomerata of variety Ukrainka, and Agrostis gigantea Roth variety Sarnenska piznia. It is also possible organization hay conveyors of different ripening varieties of Dactylis glomerata varieties Kyivska rannia, Muravka, Ukrainka.

scholarly journals High Survivorship of First-Generation Monarch Butterfly Eggs to Third Instar Associated with a Diverse Arthropod Community

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 567
Author(s):  
Misty Stevenson ◽  
Kalynn L. Hudman ◽  
Alyx Scott ◽  
Kelsey Contreras ◽  
Jeffrey G. Kopachena
Keyword(s):  
Host Plants ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Danaus Plexippus ◽  
Monarch Butterfly ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
North Texas ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Area Of Occupancy ◽  
Predator Abundance ◽  
A Site

Based on surveys of winter roost sites, the eastern migratory population of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) in North America appears to have declined in the last 20 years and this has prompted the implementation of numerous conservation strategies. However, there is little information on the survivorship of first-generation monarchs in the core area of occupancy in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana where overwinter population recovery begins. The purpose of this study was to determine the survivorship of first-generation eggs to third instars at a site in north Texas and to evaluate host plant arthropods for their effect on survivorship. Survivorship to third instar averaged 13.4% and varied from 11.7% to 15.6% over three years. The host plants harbored 77 arthropod taxa, including 27 predatory taxa. Despite their abundance, neither predator abundance nor predator richness predicted monarch survival. However, host plants upon which monarchs survived often harbored higher numbers of non-predatory arthropod taxa and more individuals of non-predatory taxa. These results suggest that ecological processes may have buffered the effects of predators and improved monarch survival in our study. The creation of diverse functional arthropod communities should be considered for effective monarch conservation, particularly in southern latitudes.

APPLICATION OF AAS AND NAA FOR DETERMINATION OF TIN IN SRMs, AND IN ANIMAL AND HUMAN ORGANS

1992 ◽  
Vol 02 (04) ◽  
pp. 489-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
MOMOKO CHIBA ◽  
VENKATESH G. IYENGAR
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Activation Analysis ◽  
Activation Analysis ◽  
Reference Materials ◽  
Certified Reference Materials ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Absorption Spectrometry ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Mixed Diet ◽  
Human Organs

Tin (Sn) is one of the causative elements of the environmental pollution. As no certified reference materials for Sn are presently available, existing reference materials were analyzed for Sn by two independent analytical techniques; atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and neutron activation analysis (NAA). The results obtained by both methods were in agreement except for mixed diet which contains Sn in the range of 50 μ g/g. Further, tin concentrations in human and animal organs have been examined by AAS. Among organs tested tin concentrations in testes were the highest, 2.08±0.62 μ g/g dry weight (mean ±SD, n=12) in humans, and 1.45±0.55 μ g/g (n=8) in mice.

Mapping Poverty Point

2002 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tristram R. Kidder
Keyword(s):  
Large Population ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Topographic Map ◽  
Symmetrical Form ◽  
Perceived Reality ◽  
Map Data ◽  
A Site ◽  
Poverty Point

Even though the general configuration of the Poverty Point site has been known for over forty years, the entire site was mapped for the first time in 1999–2000. In this paper we examine how Poverty Point has been portrayed in the archaeological literature. Tracings of stereoscopic aerial photographs were used to construct previous maps of the site. Features that could not be traced because of tree cover were interpolated. Succeeding representations of the site show different features and emphasize the symmetrical form of the site, including the presence of ridges separated by aisles. The 1999–2000 map demonstrates that earlier images of the site overemphasize earthworm symmetry. Our data suggest that the northern aisle does not exist and may have been introduced into earlier maps in order to complete a hypothesized regular site plan. Images of a site like Poverty Point are powerful representations of a perceived reality. For example, existing maps of Poverty Point have been used to bolster claims that the site represents a "great town," with a large population and some kind of centralized leadership. Despite a considerable history of research at Poverty Point map data alone cannot and probably will never provide sufficient evidence to support or reject such a claim. While mapping alone cannot answer questions about the nature of site organization or social behavior, differences between existing images and the current topographic map underscore the need to view maps and pictures of Poverty Point as a means for generating testable hypotheses, rather than an end unto itself.

scholarly journals Pemanfaatan FMA dan Tanaman Inang untuk Meningkatkan Pertumbuhan Bibit Cendana (Santalum album Linn.)

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-159
Author(s):  
Magdalena Sunarti Pareira ◽  
Irdika Mansur ◽  
Dewi Wulandari
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Root System ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Root Colonization ◽  
Seed Quality ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Santalum Album ◽  
Capsicum Annum ◽  
Root Buds

The sandalwood tree (Santalum album Linn.) is an important tree species as well as a primadonna for the people of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). It has high economic value for its aromatic wood and essential oil content that have a very distinctive aroma used to make various products such as handicrafts, woodcarvings, incense, and oil for the perfume and cosmetics industry. Sandalwood is a semi parasite plant that part of its life phase requires a host plant to get the nutrients and water. There are many types of host plants that have been used, among others, Casuarina equisetifolia, Acacia mangium, Terminalia microcarpa, Sesbania grandiflora, Alternanthera sp and Capsicum annum. In this research will be tested to try sandalwood planted with Cymbopogon nardus host plants, in terms of economics can provide benefits.Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is a group of fungi from glomeromycota phylum that can symbiosis mutualism with root system of high level plant. The working principle of the mycorrhiza is to infect the root system of the host plant, producing intensive hyphae tissue so that the plant containing mycorrhiza will be able to increase the capacity in nutrient uptake. The utilization of host plants Alternanthera sp, Capsicum annum, and its application with AMF is the best solution to overcome the problem of developing sandalwood in TTU on the nursery. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of AMF and utilization of the atsiri host plant to increase the growth of sandalwood seedlings in TTU. This study was designed using a complete random method (RAL) in split plot design. If the treatment has a significant effect then followed by Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Parameters observed were height (cm), number of leaf, diameter of sandalwood (mm), dry weight of root, seed quality index, ratio of root buds, and haustorium observation of Sandalwood, and also number of spore, root colonization and AMF dependency of Sandalwood.The results showed that the treatment of AMF with Capsicum annum host plant was 19.8 of high, number of leaf 18.9 on FMA treatment with host plant Capsicum annum, diameter of stem 2.24 mm on Alternanthera sp host treatments without AMF and 1.83 mm at AMF treatment with host plant Capsicum annum, dry weight of buds 2.00g on AMF treatment with Capsicum annum host plant, dry weight of roots AMF (M1) with alternanthera sp 0.70 g, root buds ratio of AMF with host plant alternanthera sp 4.05, seed quality index AMF with Alternanthera sp 4.16 and 82 % of root colonization on AMF with host plant Capsicum annum.Keywords: Santalum album Linn., AMF, host plant.

Effect of Corn (Zea mays) Seeding Date on the Growth of Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)

Weed Science ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 572-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zain Ghafar ◽  
Alan K. Watson
Keyword(s):  
Zea Mays ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Tuber Size ◽  
Corn Yield ◽  
Cyperus Esculentus ◽  
Above Ground Biomass ◽  
Yellow Nutsedge ◽  
Seeding Date ◽  
Tuber Production

Major differences in above- ground biomass and tuber production of yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentusL. # CYPES) were not observed when corn (Zea maysL. “CO-OP S265”) was seeded on different dates (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th week of May; and 1st week of June). The final seedbed was prepared just prior to each seeding date and this cultivation stimulated dormant tubers to sprout. As a result, a large population of yellow nutsedge emerged with the corn at all seeding dates. Because fertilizer was banded near the corn row, yellow nutsedge biomass, tuber dry weight and number of tubers were higher within corn rows than between rows. Tuber size was affected by seeding date and shifted toward smaller tubers within corn rows and larger tubers between the rows as the corn was sown late. The optimum seeding date of corn was in the 3rd week of May when the highest corn yield was obtained and yellow nutsedge growth was generally reduced.

Effect of drought on morphological and functional traits of Poa ligularis and Pappostipa speciosa, native perennial grasses with wide distribution in Patagonian rangelands, Argentina

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana M. Cenzano ◽  
M. Celeste Varela ◽  
Mónica B. Bertiller ◽  
M. Virginia Luna
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Photosynthetic Pigments ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Senescent Leaf ◽  
Poa Ligularis

Poa ligularis Nees. Ap. Steudel and Pappostipa speciosa (Trin. et Rupr.) Romaschenko are dominant perennial grasses in the arid Patagonian rangelands of Argentina. Both species are exposed to periods of water shortage during spring-summer and are grazed by domestic and native herbivores. Pappostipa speciosa displays xeromorphic adaptations and is less preferred by herbivores than P. ligularis. The knowledge of how drought affects morphological/functional traits in coexisting perennial grass species is useful to understanding the function of desert perennial grasses, and for the use and conservation of Patagonian arid rangelands. The hypothesis of this study was that co-existing perennial grasses contrasting in drought resistance mechanisms display different degrees of phenotypic plasticity in underlying and/or functional traits. Plants of both species were exposed to two levels of gravimetric soil moisture: 16% (~field capacity) and 4%. Plant vegetative and reproductive traits were measured weekly in individual plants and these were harvested at the end of the experiment. Aboveground and root biomass were separated in the harvested plants and the concentration of photosynthetic pigments was assessed in green leaves. The trait response range was also calculated through the plasticity index. In both species, drought stress led to significant reductions in plant height, total plant dry weight, number of total leaves, dry weight of green and senescent leaf, percentage of flowering plants, length of inflorescences, and number, length and dry weight of roots. The concentration of photosynthetic pigments increased under drought in both species. In conclusion, drought strongly affected reproductive and vegetative traits in both species and the greatest negative effect of drought was found in P. speciosa, the most conservative species. However, our findings might indicate that both species are able to maintain photosynthetic activity through the increase of photosynthetic pigments under drought conditions in Patagonian rangelands.

The Need for a New Approach to Grazing Management - Is Cell Grazing the Answer?

1996 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 327 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Earl ◽  
CE Jones
Keyword(s):  
Ground Cover ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Individual Plant ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Adverse Environmental Conditions ◽  
The Stability ◽  
A Site

With any grazing method, the grazing pressure applied to an individual plant is a site, stock density and time dependent variable and the diet selection hierarchy of grazing animals is to the disadvantage of the most palatable and actively growing pasture components. The greater the differences in palatability and abundance among the components of a sward, and the lower the stock density, the greater the variation in the grazing pressure exerted. These effects are heightened when animals are set-stocked under adverse environmental conditions. This paper reports the comparative effects of cell grazing and continuous grazing on pasture composition on three properties on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. The basal diameters, relative frequency and contribution to dry weight of the most desirablelpalatable species at each site were found to remain constant or to increase under cell grazing, while declining significantly under continuous stocking. The converse was true for the least palatable components of the pasture, which declined significantly under cell grazing but changed little under continuous grazing. Percentage ground cover was significantly higher after two years of cell grazing than under continuous grazing. These changes in pasture composition may have long-term benefits with respect to erosion control, nutrient cycling, hydrological function and the stability of animal production at the cell grazed sites.

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