Zettel Jürg

Survival and development of grasshoppers (Saltatoria) in the flood plain of the Rottensand at Pfynwald (CH)

Project Number: CH-4983
Project Type: Master
Project Duration: 05/01/2001 - 09/30/2002 project completed
Funding Source: other ,
Leading Institution: Universität Bern, Zoologisches Institut
Project Leader: Prof. em. Jürg Zettel
Biologe
Speichergasse 8
3150 Schwarzenburg
Phone: +41 31 971 34 44

related to this project.
for which the project has a relevance.


Research Areas:
Biodiversity

Disciplines:
zoology

Keywords:
Saltatoria, flood plain, alluvial zone, deposit, steppe, survival, pioneer and themophilic species, development, larvae, instars

Abstract:
The Rottensand is alongside a section of a braided alpine river in Switzerland and comprises a unique dry flood plain with steppe areas. After the flood of 2000 in this area, we investigated the survival and the development of Calliptamus italicus, Oedipoda caerulescens, Sphingonotus caerulans, Chorthippus spp. And Plactycleis albopunctata on four flooded plots differing in the type and the depth of deposit, as well as on two non-flooded plots. Larvae were recorded on all six plots, but their numbers were at least six times higher on the non flooded plots than on the flooded ones. We found a negative correlation between the depth of deposit and the number of larvae : the deeper the deposit the smaller the number of larvae. The fewest larvae emerged on a plot which was covered with sand of a mean depth of 8 cm.
Chorthippus spp. Were the most recorded taxa (n=656), S. caerulans was the rarest one (n=86). Measurements of the recorded larvae showed that C. italicus and O. caerulescens females pass through five instars and males through four. The instar number found in Chorthippus spp., S. caerulans and P. albopunctata is the same in both sexes : four, five and seven respectively.

Leading questions:
  • Assuming that the eggs in the soil survived the flood and developed, can the larvae penetrate the deposit and therefore emerge in spring?

  • Is there any difference in the abundance of larvae between plots with different depths and types of deposit?

    Publications:
    Mühlheim D. 2002. Survival and development of grasshoppers (Saltatoria) in the flood plain of the Rottensand at Pfynwald (CH). Zoologisches Institut, Abteilung Synökologie, Universität Bern


    Last update: 12/20/19
    Source of data: ProClim- Research InfoSystem (1993-2024)
    Update the data of project: CH-4983

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