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Energy dynamics of grasshopper populations in a temperate grassland community in India
Author(s) -
KAUSHAL B. R.,
JOSHI P. C.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
australian journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1442-9993
pISSN - 0307-692X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-9993.1991.tb01057.x
Subject(s) - grasshopper , grassland , biomass (ecology) , temperate climate , primary production , ecology , population , biology , population density , agronomy , temperate rainforest , ecosystem , demography , sociology
Population dynamics, biomass and secondary net production of orthopterans, particularly acridids, were studied in a temperate grassland at Naukuchiatal, India, from February 1986 to January 1988. A total of 38 plant species were recorded in the grassland and mean aboveground net primary production was 6760 kJ m ‐2 per year. Thirteen orthopteran species occurred in the grassland. Most individuals were acridids, followed by tettigonids and gryllids; acridids were dominant both in density and biomass. The maximum population density was 5 m ‐2 and the maximum biomass was 275 mg m ‐2 . Mean secondary net production was 10 kJ m ‐2 per year. Acridids consumed an average of 2.3% of the above‐ground primary production.