Grazing‐induced changes in the abundance and diversity of grasshoppers is mediated through changes in plant functional groups

Abstract Livestock grazing is a predominant land use in grasslands globally, primarily for economic purposes. It can also be a management practice to maintain ecosystem health when implemented sustainably, but overgrazing can lead to degradation. Grasshoppers are integral to grassland ecosystems and can indicate ecosystem functioning and services. Understanding insect responses to human activities, particularly land‐use changes, is crucial for ecology and conservation as it impacts biodiversity. This study analysed data from a grazing experiment in Inner Mongolia, China, to examine the effects of grazing intensity on grasshopper communities. Total grasshopper abundance increased with grazing intensity, while Calliptamus abbreviatus abundance decreased. Overall grasshopper diversity declined with increasing grazing intensity. Dasyhippus barbipes abundance was regulated by plant diversity, Oedaleus asiaticus by the above‐ground nitrogen pool of dominant plants, Myrmeleotettix palpalis by perennial grass biomass and C. abbreviatus by shrub and semi‐shrub biomass. Grasshopper diversity was significantly affected by perennial grass biomass. Light grazing intensity can maintain grasshopper diversity while keeping abundance low, providing a basis for effective grazing management strategies in desert steppe.