Grassland and Shrubland Grasshopper Community Composition in Northern La Pampa Province, Argentina

Abstract

Grasshopper species composition, diversity and abundance on five grasslands and shrublands in northern La Pampa province were determined. Plant species composition, richness and a diversity index are reported for the different sites. A total of 24 grasshopper species were collected. The subfamily Melanoplinae was dominant, followed by Gomphocerinae and Acridinae. The highest abundance of grasshoppers was registered in shrubland communities in 1992. Dichroplus pratensis and Neopedies brunneri were the most abundant species in grasslands, while D. vittatus and D. pratensis were in shrublands. D. pratensis and Euplectrotettixferrugineus were broadly distributed in both community types. N. brunneri was broadly distributed in grasslands and Scyllina signatipennis in shrublands. A total of 16 species were uncommon or rare, being collected only in certain years, in low numbers, and only in some locations. Species richness and diversity indices ranged from 11-4, and from 1.680.42, respectively. Although species richness in grasslands and shrublands was similar, diversity was, in general, lower in the latter.