Effects of Vegetation Characteristics on Leafhopper Abundance

Leafhoppers can indicate habitat conditions and intensity of disturbance due to high numbers of species richness and abundance. Here, we aim to detect the effects of vegetation characteristics on leafhopper abundance and community structure (generalists and habitat specialists) in three different, adjacent habitats: calcareous grasslands (CGLs), pasturelands and waysides. Investigated transects were leading away from semi-dry grassland core-areas to adjacent pastureland or wayside sections respectively. Our results show that habitats adjacent to calcareous grasslands can have a positive influence on leafhopper species exchange and migration. In order to benefit both plant and insect communities, habitat management should prioritize (i) an extensive and rotational sheep-grazing on the CGLs (especially for those small in size) to enhance vegetation composition and heterogeneity and (ii) an improvement of secondary habitats, refugial structures and transitional zones (such as waysides or pasturelands) adjacent to the CGL conservation areas to enhance habitat complexity and quality for leafhopper specialists, allow species dispersal and to avoid further reduction in species richness.