Field-scale Variations in Plant and Grasshopper Communities: A GIS-based Assessment |
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| Authors: | William P Kemp Kevin M O'Neill Maria Marta Cigliano & Sandra Torrusio |
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| Institution: | USDA-ARS Bee Biology and Systematics Laboratory,;Department of Entomology, Montana State University,;Departmento Científico de Entomologí, Museo de la Plata,;Direccion de Aplicación de Imagenes Satelitares, La Plata, Argentina |
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| Abstract: | GIS technology allowed us to examine species-specific occurrence and abundance patterns of important grassland herbivore species through the use of appropriate statistical methods and the superior spatial representation commonly available in existing GIS packages. The study was conducted on a 254 ha grassland area located 10 km south of Three Forks, Gallatin County, Montana, in the Agropyron spicatum province of the western steppe region of the U.S.A. From an ecological perspective, grasshopper species distribution and abundance patterns observed on a local, non-uniform landscape (2.6 km 2) were consistent with results found in other studies at the valley (≈1,400 km 2) and state-level (≈237,000 km 2) scales. Our observations at the local scale further demonstrate the importance of vegetation type and specific local stand physiognomies in structuring grasshopper populations. The application of results from studies conducted at various scales to the development of decision support tools for resource managers is also discussed. |
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