Short-Term Recovery of the Grasshopper Communities (Orthoptera: Acrididae) of a California Native Grassland After Prescribed Burning

A California native grassland was sampled to describe recovery of grasshopper communities after prescribed spring burning. Grasshopper density and grasshopper biomass were significantly reduced by spring burning both the year of the burn (1993) and the subsequent year (1994). Grasshopper density and grasshopper biomass appeared to stabilize 2 yr after a burn (1995). Immediately after burning, grasshopper diversity was higher because of a reduction in the dominance of the migratory grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes (F.), and a relative increase in the number of Oedipodinae species, which prefer sparsely vegetated areas. Time since burning had no effect on grasshopper diversity 1 or 2 yr after burning. Burning significantly reduced the cover of exotic grasses and increased the cover of bare ground 1 yr after a burn. Grasshopper density was positively related to forb cover 1 yr after burning. Prescribed spring burning reduces grasshopper density and grasshopper biomass and likely increases grasshopper diversity.