EFFECTS OF GRASSHOPPERS ON THE DOMINANT PLANTS NATURALLY GROWING IN DEGRADED GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEM IN NORTHERN CHINA

摘要

Grasshoppers are among the most important herbivorous invertebrates on many of grasslands in the world. On account of field monitoring data, the effects of grasshoppers on the dominant plants naturally growing in the degraded grassland, northern China, were analyzed. The results indicated that grasshoppers had important effects on the plants in the grassland that were excluded from livestock. The effects varied among plant species. Grasses (Gramineae) had higher palatability for grasshoppers than forbs of Compositae and Chenopodiaceae. Therefore, in view of grasshoppers' food preference and the comparatively strong tolerance ability of some grasses, it may be a hopeful way for protecting legumes (Leguminosae) seedlings from grasshoppers by sowing the mixture of some grasses (such as Leymus chinensis) and legumes in the reseed for meliorating degraded grassland.