Long-term decline in the abundance of leafhoppers and planthoppers (Auchenorrhyncha) in Central European protected dry grasslands

Landscapes in Central Europe have changed considerably during the last five decades, while nature reserves have been less affected. However, there is growing concern that species richness and population size of animals in reserves may decrease even under protection.We performed a comparative study of the development in auchenorrhynchan communities of governmentally protected dry grasslands in Eastern Germany and tested whether reserves were effective in maintaining insect communities. The historical surveys are from 1963 to 1967. Between 2008 and 2010 we revisited 26 of the original sites and sampled leafhoppers and planthoppers by applying the same sampling technique as in the 1960s. Thus, we were able to perform a 40-year-comparison for auchenorrhynchan species richness and abundance. Comparisons capturing three successive years of each period allowed us to assess interannual variability in abundance.Species richness hardly differed between the two periods. However, some new species were found, and therefore species composition changed. Species abundance and overall numbers of individuals declined. Mainly species known to be very common dry grassland specialists exhibited strong declines in abundance. On average, only 27% of auchenorrhynchan numbers caught from 1964 to 1966 were recorded for the years 2008 to 2010.The results suggest that weather conditions and climate change are minor factors in the decline in auchenorrhynchan populations in recent years. Although the studied areas were under protection during the last 50 years, air-borne nitrogen deposition, the introduction of modern intense land use practices and alterations in plant communities, are likely to have influenced auchenorrhynchan abundance to a large extent.

► We investigated auchenorrhynchan abundance and species richness over the last 45 yrs.
► Sampling was representative for Central European protected dry grasslands.
► There were no losses in species richness over the last 4–5 decades.
► In contrast, species composition changed and most species declined in abundance.
► Changes occurred in spite of protection, probably partly caused by eutrophication.