Joern found that disturbances from fire and large mammalian grazing are vital for sustaining arthropod diversity. Bison (Bos bison) grazing increased grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae and Tettigoniidae) species richness by 42%. The taxonomic composition of grasshopper communities was influenced by fire, whereas species richness and evenness, as well as species composition was significantly impacted by grazing. In grazed sites, grasshopper species abundance was more evenly distributed. Fire and grazing changed the vegetation structure characteristics in the study area, which caused changes in plant species composition and the associated responses of the grasshopper community. Disturbance from grazing reorganizes resource quality and quantity, allowing for a greater population size of complimentary species and overall increased species diversity.
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