Milton Suzanne J, Dean W R J
FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, 7700, Rondebosch, South Africa.
Oecologia. 1992 Aug;91(2):288-291. doi: 10.1007/BF00317798.
The prediction that density of long-lived, underground herbivores (Cicadidae) is a function of rangeland condition was examined in arid shrublands in the Karoo, South Africa. It was found that the density of adult cicadas was correlated with cover of deep-rooted, perennial plants. Differences in perennial plant cover were independent of soil type and rock cover. On degraded rangelands, where perennial plants had been replaced by ephemerals and short-lived plants, cicada densities were significantly depressed. We concluded that vegetation transformation by domestic livestock is likely to affect invertebrate populations and their vertebrate predators.
在南非卡鲁地区的干旱灌木丛中，研究了长寿地下食草动物（蝉科）的密度与牧场状况之间的预测关系。研究发现，成年蝉的密度与深根多年生植物的覆盖度相关。多年生植物覆盖度的差异与土壤类型和岩石覆盖无关。在退化的牧场上，多年生植物已被一年生植物和短命植物取代，蝉的密度显著降低。我们得出结论，家畜导致的植被变化可能会影响无脊椎动物种群及其脊椎动物捕食者。
