A study on grasshopper assemblage response to seasonal grazing, rotational grazing, continuous resting and continuous grazing was undertaken in the eastern Karoo, South Africa. Rotationally-grazed sites supported the highest number and abundance of grasshopper species while continuously-grazed sites had the lowest. Spring-grazed and winter-grazed sites were the most similar, with continuously-rested sites being the next similar to these. Rotationally-grazed sites showed the least similarity to the other sites. There were clear groupings of sites and grasshopper species, with most species associated with rotationally-grazed sites. Continuously-grazed sites had a different grasshopper assemblage. The assemblages followed definite gradients of measured environmental variables. Rotationally-grazed sites occurred along gradients of increasing bare ground, while continuously-grazed and summer-grazed sites occurred along increasing gradients of shrub cover and soil temperature. Spring-grazed, autumn-grazed, winter-grazed and rotationally-grazed sites were characterized by high vegetation density. Grasshopper dominance differed between sites. Summer-grazed sites had high dominance of Pycnodictya flavipes (40%), winter-grazed sites of Pseudogmothela sp. (32%) The significance of variable grazing management systems for maintaining floral and grasshopper diversity is discussed. Rotational grazing in this arid system is most suited to maintaining plant and insect diversity.
Journal articles from the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) African Journal of Range and Forage Science as well as related articles and reports from throughout the southern African region.