Influence of grazing on populations of the specialist grasshopper Mioscirtus wagneri inhabiting hypersaline habitats in La Mancha Region, Central Spain

By

Aguirre, María Pilar
Ortego, Joaquin
Cordero, Pedro J.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2018-6-12

Original Publication

Journal of orthoptera research : JOR

Volume

27

Series / Issue

Issue: 1

Pages

75--81

Subjects

Castilla-La Mancha , Conservation , grazing management , inland hypersaline ecosystems , livestock droppings , Suaeda , vera

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Philadelphia, Penn Orthopterists' Society 1992-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.27.21064

 

Abstract

Grazing is an influential land use that has introduced profound changes in worldwide landscapes, ecosystems and their species. In this paper, we analysed the influence of grazing on the presence and abundance of the endangeredMioscirtuswagneri, a monophagous grasshopper inhabiting inland hypersaline ecosystems in Spain and showing a marked spatial and genetic fragmentation. Using count transects, we analyzed the presence and abundance of this grasshopper in relation to specific vegetation cover and the abundance of goat and sheep droppings, considering this variable as a surrogate of livestock activity and grazing impact. We found that both the presence and abundance ofM.wagneriwere positively related to the cover of its host plantSuaedaveraand negatively associated with the abundance of droppings. We conclude that dropping abundance is a useful parameter to assess livestock impact and evaluate habitat quality and the conservation status ofM.wagneriand many other singular species of macroinvertebrates inhabiting inland hypersaline ecosystems. We highly recommend the use of electric shepherd fencing around all sensitive and protected areas where inland hypersaline ecosystems are present in order to deter livestock. We also suggest intensive educational campaigns for farmers and shepherds, revealing the ecological importance of these singular and unique habitats for rare and exclusive species likeM.wagneriand many other coexisting plants and invertebrates.