U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Pest Management Research: Sidney, MT
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    NPARL
                        Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory
                                    Agricultural Systems Research Unit
                                    Grasshoppers: Their Biology, Identification and ManagementSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Plains Area Sidney, Montana Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory Pest Management Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Branson, David

                                                         - *Dave*
  Submitted to: Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts
                                    Publication Type: Abstract Only
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 11/20/2002
                                    Publication  Date: 2/2/2003
                                    Citation: BRANSON, D.H. THE EFFECTS OF RANGELAND FIRE ON GRASSHOPPER POPULATIONS AND VEGETATION IN A NORTHERN MIXED GRASS PRAIRIE. SOCIETY FOR RANGE MANAGEMENT MEETING ABSTRACTS. 2003. V. 56. PAPER NUMBER 30.Interpretive Summary:
                                Technical Abstract: Grassland fires have been shown to influence grasshopper community composition and population dynamics, but investigations of its effects on rangeland grasshopper population dynamics in the Northern Great Plains are lacking.  Indirect effects of burning on grasshopper population dynamics are likely mediated by fire-induced changes in host plants.  We examined the effect of a grassland fire in western North Dakota on grasshopper population dynamics and vegetation; with both pre- and post-fire sampling in paired burned and unburned plots. The rapidly moving fire occurred in late October, after grasshoppers had laid egg pods and died. Grasshopper population densities were significantly higher in unburned plots than in paired burned plots in 2000.  In 2001, grasshopper population densities did not differ between burned and unburned plots.  Although green vegetation biomass was similar between burned and unburned plots, the crude protein content of vegetation was higher in burned plots. However, the increased crude protein content of vegetation did not translate into higher grasshopper populations during the summer of 2000.  Bioavailability of nitrate, as measured by ion exchange resin capsules, was also higher in burned plots during the growing season of 2000.  Differences in grasshopper population densities could have resulted from vegetative changes following the fire or from increased egg mortality as a result of elevated soil temperatures during the fire.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov