Abstract
We examined the pH and Eh of the digestive tract of 23 species of mixed-grass prairie grasshoppers, and asked whether these traits were associated with the species breadth and forb composition of their diets. We report that the gut lumen of all grasshoppers was oxidizing and ranged from slightly acid to neutral depending on the gut region and species. Although gut physicochemical conditions differed among species, the differences were of small magnitude. Conditions were fairly uniform along the digestive tract, which suggests little or no regulation of pH or Eh. Gut conditions were independent of diet breadth and the percentage of forbs in the diet. These results suggest that physicochemical conditions of grasshopper guts are not highly regulated and are not influenced by their most recent meal or by broad scale patterns of host-plant use.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
