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- David Branson, RL
- Joshua Campbell
- John Gaskin
- Tatyana Rand
- Robert Srygley
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- Carissa Wonkka
- Former PMRU Scientists

David H Branson

(Dave)    Research Entomologist   /ARSUserFiles/601/Branson Web3.jpg  **David H. Branson (Dave)** **Research Entomologist | PMRU Research Leader**  Phone: 406.433.9406Fax: 406.433.5038  www.ars.usda.gov/pa/nparl/dbranson • Education • Current Research •Research Experience •Related Web Pages • Selected Publications • **Additional Pages:****Research Projects****,*****Publications*** *Taken from the Agricultural Research Information System (ARIS) database.  **EDUCATION**  B.S. Biology
1988
Bryan College, Dayton, TNM.S. Biology
1992
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MIPh. D. Ecology
2001
Utah State University, Logan, UT  **CURRENT RESEARCH**Grasshoppers are an important native component of biodiversity in grassland ecosystems. However, periodic grasshopper outbreaks cause significant economic impact to the grazing industry, with grasshoppers consuming an estimated $1.25 billion per year in forage in Western U.S. rangelands. Grasshoppers are often the dominant rangeland herbivore, both in terms of biomass and vegetation consumed. Despite their economic and ecological importance, relatively little is known about the ecological processes that generate outbreaks. In addition, the direct, indirect, and interacting effects weather, host plants, predation and other biotic factors have on population fluctuations remain poorly understood. Although pesticides have been the primary tools used to combat outbreaks, increased public concern over non-target effects, combined with high costs of spraying, has made it important to develop ecologically-based sustainable grasshopper management tactics. Habitat management techniques, such as burning or livestock grazing on rangeland, hold promise as a method of manipulating the quality of habitat available for grasshoppers and/or their predators, thus reducing grasshopper outbreaks. (See Branson et al. 2006, BioScience [pdf available below] for a comprehensive overview) Grasshoppers also likely make positive contributions to grassland health, impact grazing system sustainability, influence the relationships between native and exotic plants, and serve as a food supply for wildlife. My research primarily focuses on: Examining sustainable rangeland management techniques including livestock grazing management and rangeland fire that may reduce outbreaks while satisfying the needs of the grazing industry.
Defining biotic and climatic factors that influence the influence the likelihood of outbreaks to allow enhanced predictions of outbreak dynamics.
Clarifying how grasshoppers influence grassland health, grazing system sustainability, nutrient cycling and relationships between exotic and native plants.  **RESEARCH EXPERIENCE**  I joined the USDA-Agricultural Research service as a Research Entomologist in 1998. Prior to joining ARS, I conducted my dissertation research at Utah State University on grasshopper ecology.  **RELATED WEBPAGES**  Grasshoppers: Their Biology, Identification and Management Website Homing In on Hopper Hordes (AgResearch Magazine, Oct-2004) U.S. Rangeland Grasshopper Collection Grasshopper Research at NPARL  **SELECTED PUBLICATIONS** Please note: The most recent publications by this scientist may not yet be listed here. Please check the ARIS "Publications" page for possible new titles. Srygley, R.B., Branson, D.H. 2023. Power bars: Mormon crickets get immunity boost from eating grasshoppers. Insects. 14(11):868. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14110868.
Humphreys Jr., J.M., Srygley, R.B., Lawton, D., Hudson, A.R., Branson, D.H. 2022. Grasshoppers exhibit asynchrony and spatial non-stationarity in response to the El Niño/Southern and Pacific Decadal Oscillations. Ecological Modeling. 471. Article 110043. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2022.110043.
Humphreys Jr., J.M., Srygley, R.B., Branson, D.H. 2022. Geographic variation in migratory grasshopper recruitment under projected climate change. Geographies. 2(1):12-30. https://doi.org/10.3390/geographies2010003.
Branson, D.H. 2022. Grasshopper feeding preference affects cascading effects of predators on plant biomass in a mixed-grass prairie. Food Webs. 31. Article e00224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fooweb.2022.e00224.
Humphreys Jr., J.M., Srygley, R.B., Branson, D.H. 2022. Geographic variation in migratory grasshopper recruitment under projected climate change. Geographies. 2(1):12-30. https://doi.org/10.3390/geographies2010003.
Lucas, J.M., Jonas, J., Laws, A., Branson, D.H., Pennings, S.C., Prather, C.M., Strickland, M.S. 2021. Functional and taxonomic diversity of grasshoppers differentially shape above- and below-ground communities and their function. Functional Ecology. 35(1):167-180. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.13682.
Rand, T.A., Waters, D.K., Srygley, R.B., Branson, D.H. 2020. Tri-trophic interactions are resilient to large shifts in precipitation levels in a wheat agroecosystem. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 301:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2020.106981.
Branson, D.H. 2020. Grasshopper populations respond similarly to multiple moderate intensity livestock grazing treatments. Journal of Orthoptera Research. 29(1):67-69. https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.29.46966.
Branson, D.H. 2020. Influence of cold temperature and exposure time on egg overwintering survival in the white-whiskered grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Journal of Orthoptera Research. 29(1):63-65. https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.29.46967.
Zachary A Sylvain, David H Branson, Tatyana A Rand, Natalie M West, Erin K Espeland. 2019. Decoupled recovery of ecological communities after reclamation. PeerJ. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7038.
Zachary A Sylvain, Erin K Espeland, Tatyana A Rand, Natalie M West, David H Branson. 2019. Oilfield Reclamation Recovers Productivity but not Composition of Arthropod Herbivores and Predators, Environmental Entomology, 48: 299–308. DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvz012
Laws, A.N., Prather, C.M., Branson, D.H., Pennings, S. 2018. Effects of grasshoppers on prairies: herbivore composition matters more than richness in three grassland ecosystems. Journal of Animal Ecology. 87:1727–1737. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12897
Branson, D.H. 2017. Grasshopper species composition shifts following a severe rangeland grasshopper outbreak. Short Communication: Journal of Orthoptera Research. 26:7-10. DOI: 10.3897/jor.26.14542
Prather, C.M., Strickland, M.S., Laws, A.N., Branson, D.H. 2017. Herbivore species identity and composition affect soil enzymatic activity through altered plant composition in a coastal tallgrass prairie. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 112:277-280. DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.05.013
David H. Branson. 2017. Effects of Altered seasonality of precipitation on grass production and grasshopper performance in a northern mixed prairie. Environ Entomol. DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvx053 (The original publication is available at Environmental Entomology) (Abstract)
David H. Branson. 2016. Drought Impacts on Competition in *Phoetaliotes nebrascensis* (Orthoptera Acrididae) in a Northern Mixed Grassland. Environ Entomol. 45 (2): 492-499. DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvv225 (The original publication is available at Environmental Entomology) (Abstract)
Branson, D.H., Vermeire, L.T. 2016. Grasshopper responses to fire and postfire grazing in the northern Great Plains vary among species. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 169(2):144-149. DOI: 10.1016/j.rama.2015.10.005. (The original publication is available at Science Direct)
Branson, D.H., Haferkamp, M.R. 2014. Insect herbivory and vertebrate grazing impact food limitation and grasshopper populations during a severe outbreak. Ecological Entomology. 39(1):371-381. (PDF)
Branson, D.H., Vermeire, L.T. 2013. Heat dosage and oviposition depth influence egg mortality of two common rangeland grasshopper species. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 66(1):110-113. (PDF; 220 KB)
Branson, D.H. 2011. Effects of nymph-overwintering grasshopper density on *Ageneotettix deorum* survival in a northern mixed grassland. Journal of Orthoptera Research. 20(2): 137-139. (PDF; 114 KB)
Branson, D.H. 2011. Relationships between plant diversity and grasshopper diversity and abundance in the Little Missouri National Grassland. Psyche. Special Issue 2011, 7 pgs.  (PDF; 520 KB)
Branson, D.H. 2010. Density-Dependent Effects of an Early Season Insect Herbivore on a Later Developing Insect Herbivore. Environmental Entomology. 39(2): 346-350. (PDF; 87 KB)
Branson, D.H., Sword, G.A. 2010. An experimental analysis of grasshopper community responses to fire and livestock grazing in a northern mixed-grass prairie. Environmental Entomology. 39(5): 1441-1446. (PDF; 157 KB)
Branson, D.H., Sword, G.A. 2009. Grasshopper herbivory affects native plant diversity and abundance in a grassland dominated by the exotic grass *Agropyron cristatum*. Restoration Ecology. 17(1):89-96. (PDF; 236KB)
Branson, D.H. 2008. Influence of individual body size on reproductive traits in Melanopline grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Journal of Orthoptera Research. 17(2): 259-263. (PDF; 162KB)
Branson, D.H. 2008. Influence of a large late summer precipitation event on food limitation and grasshopper population dynamics in a northern Great Plains grassland. Environmental Entomology. 37(3):686-695. (PDF; 138KB)
Johnson, D.L., Branson, D.H. 2007. Grasshoppers and Crickets. In: Lamp, W., Lamp, Berberet, R., Higley, L., Baird, C. (eds.), Handbook of Forage and Rangeland Insects. Saint Paul, MN. APS Press. p. 67-76.
Branson, David H. and Vermeire, Lance T. 2007. Grasshopper egg mortality mediated by oviposition tactics and fire intensity. Ecological Entomology. 32:128-134.  (PDF; 116KB)
Branson, D.H., Joern, A., Sword, G.A. 2006. Sustainable Management of Insect Herbivores in Grassland Ecosystems: New Perspectives in Grasshopper Control. BioScience 56(9):743-755.  (PDF; 1005KB)
Branson, D.H. 2006. Life-history responses of *Ageneotettix deorum* (Orthoptera: Acrididae) to host plant availability and population density. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society. 79:146-155.  (PDF; 82KB)
Branson, D.H. 2005. Effects of fire on grasshopper assemblages in a northern mixed-grass prairie. Environmental Entomology. 34(5): 1109-1113.  (PDF; 77KB)
Branson, D.H. 2005. Direct and indirect effects of avian predation on grasshopper communities in northern mixed-grass prairie. Environmental Entomology. 34(5): 1114-1121. (PDF; 114KB)
Vermeire, L.T., Geary, T.W., Grings, E.E., Haferkamp, M.R., Heitschmidt, R.K., Macneil, M.D., Rinella, M.J., Alexander, L.J., Roberts, A.J., Waterman, R.C., Branson, D.H. 2005. 2005 Research Update. Research Update for Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory. 57 Pgs.
Branson, D.H., and Vermeire, L.T. 2005. Grasshopper Egg Mortality Explained by Laying Strategy and Fire Intensity. 2005. Research Update for Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory. P. 51-52. (PDF; 373KB)
Branson, D.H. 2004. Relative importance of nymphal and adult resource availability on reproductive allocation in *Melanoplus sanguinipes* (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Journal of Orthoptera Research 13: 239-245. (PDF; 522KB)
Branson, D.H., and Redlin, B. (eds.). 2004. Grasshoppers: Their Biology, Identification and Management. 2nd Edition. CD-Rom. US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.
Branson, D.H., and Haferkamp, M.R. 2003. Effects of Sheep Grazing on Grasshopper Population Dynamics and Rangeland Vegetation. Research Update for Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory. P. 19-20. (PDF; 446KB)
Branson, D.H. 2003. Effects of a parasite mite on life-history variation in two grasshopper species. Evolutionary Ecology Research 5: 397-409. (PDF; 272KB)
Branson, D.H. 2003. Reproduction and survival in *Melanoplus sanguinipes* (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in response to resource availability and population density: the role of exploitative competition. The Canadian Entomologist 135: 415-426. (PDF; 242KB)


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