Original paper
Trait-dependent responses of insects to grassland management
Hussain, Raja Imran; Peer, Maria; Ablinger, Daniela; Starz, Walter; Friedel, Jürgen Kurt; Frank, Thomas
Entomologia Generalis Volume 45 Number 2 (2025), p. 461 - 471
published: May 22, 2025
published online: Apr 14, 2025
manuscript accepted: Feb 25, 2025
manuscript revision received: Jan 21, 2025
manuscript revision requested: Oct 11, 2024
manuscript received: Jul 22, 2024
DOI: 10.1127/entomologia/2025/2870
Open Access (paper may be downloaded free of charge)
Abstract
Insects display species-specific ecological features that have evolved in response to their diverse habitats and roles, fulfilling ecosystem functions at various levels based on mobility, foraging, and habitat requirements. During two consecutive years (2021–2022), the distribution of syrphids and true bugs was recorded in alpine organic grasslands that were abandoned, extensively managed, or intensively managed. We hypothesized that functional richness, species-specific traits, and habitat preferences of syrphids and true bugs would respond differently among these grassland management types. The functional richness of syrphids did not significantly differ among grassland types, but true bugs exhibited significantly higher functional richness in extensively managed compared to abandoned grassland. In abandoned grasslands, syrphids were likely to be phytophagous and to occur in woody habitat, compared with more zoophagy and reduced detritophagous activity among syrphids in intensively managed grasslands. True bugs in abandoned grasslands showed significantly specialized feeding preferences and lower mobility, whereas those in intensively managed grasslands were xerophilic, broadly polyphagous, and more mobile. The findings highlight the diverse responses of syrphids and true bugs to different grassland management intensities, revealing a flexibility of syrphids across management types and a sensitivity of true bugs, which particularly thrived in extensively managed grasslands. The results underscore the need to consider species-specific traits and habitat preferences when assessing how land management practices affect insect communities. Deeper research is needed into underlying mechanisms and interactions to inform targeted conservation efforts and biodiversity preservation strategies in grassland ecosystems.
Keywords
ecosystem services • pollinator • predator • mowing • trait-based management