Abstract
Disturbance events can significantly influence net CO2 exchange (NCE) in ecosystems. High densities of Anabrus simplex (Mormon crickets) periodically afflict large areas of the western USA; their sheer numbers could make them a significant source of CO2. We modeled cricket respiration at the ecosystem level using air and body tem- peratures and insect gas exchange measurements. Cricket CO2 efflux values were compared to ecosystem CO2 flux from eddy covariance measurements in 3 Great Basin ecosystems: a juniper woodland, a sagebrush shrubland, and a crested wheatgrass pasture. Mean respiration from Mormon crickets was 0.96 g CO2 ⋅ m-2d-1. Since Mormon crickets are pre- sent when NCE is otherwise near 0, they can potentially alter NCE between 20% ( juniper woodland) and 60% (crested wheatgrass pasture). Transient pests such as Mormon crickets can be an important component of NCE.
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