Biological and ecological evidences suggestStipa krylovii(Pooideae), contributes to optimal growth performance and population distribution of the grasshopperOedaleus asiaticus

• DOI: 10.1017/s000748531600105x
• Publication Date: 2017-01-31T10:01:44Z
• Authors: X.B. Huang; M.R. McNeill; J.C. Ma; X.H. Qin; X.B. Tu; G.C. Cao; G.J. Wang; X.Q. Nong; Z.H. Zhang
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; 0106 biological sciences; China; Food Chain; Population Dynamics; Grasshoppers; 15. Life on land; Poaceae; Grassland; 01 natural sciences; Animals; Female

AbstractOedaleus asiaticusBey. Bienko is a significant grasshopper pest species occurring in north Asian grasslands. Outbreaks often result in significant loss in grasses and economic losses. Interestingly, we found this grasshopper was mainly restricted toStipa-dominated grassland. We suspected this may be related to the dominant grasses species,Stipa kryloviiRoshev, and hypothesized thatS. kryloviicontributes to optimal growth performance and population distribution ofO. asiaticus. A 4 year investigation showed thatO. asiaticusdensity was positively correlated to the above-ground biomass ofS. kryloviiandO. asiaticusgrowth performance variables (survival rate, size, growth rate) were significantly higher inStipa-dominated grassland. A feeding trial also showed thatO. asiaticushad a higher growth performance when feeding exclusively onS. krylovii. In addition, the choice, consumption and the efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) byO. asiaticuswas highest forS. kryloviicompared with other plant species found in the Asian grasslands. These ecological and biological traits revealed whyO. asiaticusis strongly associated withStipa-dominated grasslands. We concluded that the existence ofS. kryloviibenefited the growth performance and explained the distribution ofO. asiaticus.These results are useful for improved pest management strategies and developing guidelines for the monitoring of grasshopper population dynamics against the background of vegetation succession and changing plant communities in response to activities such as grazing, fire and climate change.