Community Characteristics of Grasshopper and Its Relationship with Plant Community in Upper Reaches of Heihe River

A complex coupled relationship between grasshopper and vegetation is often recognized.The characteristic change of grasshopper community is an important ecological response to the plant community.In the Baidaban grassland of the upper reaches of Heihe River,sample investigation methods were used to study grasshopper community composition,diversity and its relationship with the plant community from June to August,2009.Thirteen species of grasshoppers were identified among seven plant communities.The grasshoppers was composed of ten genera of three families,within which Oedaleus decoratus,Gomphocerus licenti and Chorthippus albonemus were the dominant species in the research area.The highest populations were found in the plant communities dominated by Artemisia dalailamae or Stellera chamaejasme.The community composition and dominant species were significantly different in seven plant communities.However,no significant difference was found for evenness index(p0.05).Grasshopper community diversity and species richness had positive correlation with vegetation coverage and diversity,but related negatively with plant height and plant dominance index.Meanwhile,grasshopper abundance was high in species-enriched plant communities.Negative relationships were identified between grasshopper Pielou evenness index and plant community diversity,and grasshopper dominance index had positive correlation with plant dominance index.Grasshopper distribution and population were affected by biology characteristics of grasshopper and plant community composition.Grasshopper choice diversity to plants reflected strong adaption and cooperation function of the grasshopper population.