02087nas a2200157 4500008004100000245011600041210006900157300001300226490000700239520148500246653002201731100001701753700001801770700001801788856012301806 1990 eng d00aEffects of small mammal and invertebrate herbivory on plant species richness and abundance in tallgrass prairie0 aEffects of small mammal and invertebrate herbivory on plant spec a169 -1750 v843 a
A factorial field experiment was designed to test the effects of small mammals and above-and below-ground invertebrates on plant species richness and composition in native tallgrass prairie at Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, northeast Kansas. Over a 4-year period, Microtus ochrogaster densities were maintained by live-trapping in fenced plots, and invertebrate levels were reduced using the pesticides carbaryl for aboveground invertebrates and an organophsphate (isofenphos) for below-ground invertebrates. ANOVA according to a split-plot design of plant species biomass data harvested in 1984 and 1986 revealed few significant effect of either small mammal densities or pesticide application. Of 54 species harvested from both sample dates, only 10 were significantly affected by either treatment. Analysis of species richness according to 8 life-form classes provided a clearer pattern of response than did biomass either by species or life-form class. For example, numbers of C4 grasses were reduced by increasing small mammal densities, whereas numbers of C4 annual forbs were lowest when above-ground herbivory was reduced. While consumers have been shown to have strong effects on successional communities, the few significant results observed in this study suggests that the manipulated levels of small mammals and insects had few effects on a mature tallgrass prairie. Key words: herbivory, tallgrass prairie, small mammals, invertebrates, plant communities
10atallgrass prairie1 aGibson, D.J.1 aFreeman, C.C.1 aHulbert, L.C. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/effects-small-mammal-and-invertebrate-herbivory-plant-species-richness-and-abundance