Zettel Jürg

Contributions to the nutritional ecology of the endangered grasshopper Chorthippus pullus (Philippi, 1830) (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Project Number: CH-4985

Project Type:	Master
Project Duration:	10/01/2005 - 09/30/2006 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:
Chorthippus pullus, Acrididae, Orthoptera, diet composition, food preference, nutritional ecology, spatial variation, seasonal variation, faecal analysis

Abstract:
The nutritional ecology of the endangered grasshopper Chorthippus pullus (Philippi 1830) (Orthoptera : Acrididae) was investigated at Pfynwald (VS, Switzerland). The aim of this study was to gain more insight into the species’ biology and habitat use. The diet composition of C. pullus was determined in two different habitats by faecal analysis. The grasshoppers turned out to have a rather wide food spectrum, including dicotyledons, monocotyledons as well as bryophytes. Astragalus onobrychis (Fabaceae) was the main food plant at all plots. Spatial and seasonal variation in diet composition was primarily present with regard to the amounts of moss consumed. A comparison of the diet composition and the vegetation cover showed that neither grasses nor forbs were clearly more preferred. The dietary niches of C. pullus and C. vagans, two syntopic species, overlapped to a great extent but due to an ample food supply, competition is rather unlikely. This study suggests that C. pullus is a polyphagous grasshopper species, in spite of the mandibular morphology that indicates a graminivorous diet.

Leading questions:
What is the diet composition of the grasshopper Chorthippus pullus in two different habitats?

Publications:
Steiner A. 2006. Contributions to the nutritional ecology of the endangered grasshopper Chorthippus pullus (Philippi, 1830) (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Zoologisches Institut, Abteilung Synökologie, Universität Bern.
pdf Masterarbeit


Last update: 7/18/17
Source of data: ProClim- Research InfoSystem (1993-2024)
Update the data of project: CH-4985

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