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Habitat associations of a Jerusalem cricket,Stenopelmatus monahansensis,at the Monahans sand dunes in western Texas

The Monahans sand dunes in western Texas are home to a unique diversity of arthropods and other animals. The Jerusalem cricket (Stenopelmatus monahansensis) is an endemic species known to occur within this dune system. Changes to groundwater and plant communities on the dunes are potential threats to this species. The objective of this study was to determine habitat associations of S. monahansensis across different types of vegetation and dune structure. In June 2014, a total of 18, 20 meter transects were established in six different types of vegetation and dune structure: coppice dunes, low shin oak (Quercus havardii), mixed vegetation, open depositional dunes, Panic grass (Panicum havardii) dominant, and remnant seeps. In each transect, 5 pitfall traps spaced evenly were used to collect S. monahanensis. Pitfall trap captures from each transect were collected monthly from June to August 2014. Data will be analyzed as a randomized complete block with repeated measures design. Results from this study will help determine habitat associations of S. monahansensis and data will be subsequently used to estimate the potential habitat of the cricket based on vegetation structure. Study Sites: Eighteen 20 meter long linear transects were established during June-August 2014 at the Monahans Sandhills State Park, in six different types of vegetation: open depositional dunes, low shin oak (Quercus havardii), remnant seep, mixed vegetation, coppice dune and panicum dominant (Panicum havardii) (Figure 3). Trapping Materials: Five pitfalls traps (Figure 2), spaced five meters apart were placed in each transect. Propylene glycol was used as the killing and preservation agent in the trapping containers. Sample Processing: Samples were collected on June 21st, July 12th, July 31st and August 16th and transported to the Natural Science Research Lab at the Texas Tech Museum for processing. Samples were then sorted in the Bayer Plant and Soil Science Lab to identify and count the number of Jerusalem crickets found in each sample. Data analysis: Data was analyzed as a randomized complete block with repeated measures design using SAS 9.4 (PROC GLM) and a significance level of 0.05. We thank James Cokendolpher for his technical assistance in the Natural Science Research Lab at the Texas Tech Museum.. Funding provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Texas Horned Lizard License Plate Fund and the State Wildlife Grant Program. Monahans Sand Dunes Figure 1. Jerusalem Cricket (Stenopelmatus monahansensis) Habitat Total % Open depositional 121 30.87 Panicum dominant 73 18.62 Mixed vegetation 58 14.80 Remnant seep 54 13.78 Coppice dune 44 11.22 Low shin oak 42 10.71 Date Collected Total % 6/21/2014 74 18.88 7/12/2014 111 28.32 7/31/2014 99 25.26 8/16/2014 108 27.55 Open Depositional Mixed Vegetation Remnant Seep Coppice Dune Low Shin Oak Panicum Dominant Figure 3. Vegetation types sampled at the Monahans Sand Dunes System Table 1. Total number of specimens captured by habitat Table 2. Total number of specimens captured by date Figure 2. Setting pitfalls traps in the field Figure 3. Stenopelmatus monahansensis collected by habitat type Figure 4. Stenopelmatus monahansensis collected by time • Habitat type: We found that the Open Depositional habitat type had the highest number of S. monahansensis and low shin oak and coppice dunes had the lowest. However, due to the high standard error of the data only open depositional and low shin oak were significantly different. • The only significant differences found for specimens captured by date and habitat were for the specimens collected in July 12, 2014. The majority of the specimens captured in that date where in the open depositional habitat and where inmature stages of the cricket. By this information we can infer that the females prefer open depositional conditions habitat to lay their eggs and migrate to other types of habitats. • More studies are needed to determine the physical and biological factors occurring in the Open Depositional Habitat. They must be related to sand mositure, absence of predators, habitat structure among others. References • Stidham, T.A. and Stidham, J.A. 2001. A new species of Jerusalem cricket (Orthoptera: Stenoplematidae) from Texas. Southwestern Entomologist 26: 221-226. • Longing, S.D. Discua, S.A. and Cokendolpher, J.C. 2014. Surveys and Habitat Assessment of Endemic Insects at the Monahans Dune System. Final Report. Date Collected Jun-21 Jul-12 Jul-31 Aug-16 N u m b er o f sp ec im e n s co lle ct ed 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Open depositional Low shin oak Coppice dune Remnant seep Panicum dominant Mixed vegetation a