Substrate utilization and guild structure in desert grasshopper assemblages

Title	Substrate utilization and guild structure in desert grasshopper assemblages
Publication Type	Thesis
Year of Publication	1985
Authors	Lightfoot DC
Number of Pages	60
Date Published	1985
University	New Mexico State University
City	Las Cruces, New Mexico
Thesis Type	M.S. Thesispp
Accession Number	JRN00025
Call Number	00177
Keywords	dissertation, dissertations, grasshopper, guild structure, grasshopper, substrate utilization, theses, thesis
Abstract	Desert grasshopper assemblages from sites in the Great Basin and Chihuahuan deserts were assessed for guilds on the basis of substrate or microhabitat use and morphological characteristics of component species. Three techniques were used to assess grasshopper guilds: 1) cluster analysis of grasshopper species by specific substrate use, 2) assessments of species substrate class use, and 3) life form classification of grasshopper species based on morphological characteristics. There consistent guilds were evident from the results of those techniques: 1) ground-dwelling species (terriocles), 2) shrub-inhabiting species (arbushticoles), and 3) grass-inhabiting species (graminicoles). Grasshopper guild structures were similar between the Great Basin and Chihuahuan deserts even though species compositions and dominance-diversity patterns were different. Observed grasshopper guilds reflected physical structural features of the habitat such as vegetation physiognomy and edaphic properties. Explanations for observed guild structure are discussed and it is hypothesized that competition for food resources is minimal and that predation is a major selective agent structuring desert grasshopper assemblages.