01423nas a2200133   4500008004100000245007900041210006900120300001100189490000700200520097700207100001901184700001301203856007301216       2013                        eng d00aEcological mechanisms underlying arthropod species diversity in grasslands0 aEcological mechanisms underlying arthropod species diversity in   a19 -360 v583 a<p>Arthropods are an important component of grassland systems, contributing significantly to biodiversity and ecosystem structure and function. Climate, fire, and grazing by large herbivores are important drivers in grasslands worldwide. Arthropod responses to these drivers are highly variable and clear patterns are difficult to find, but responses are largely indirect with respect to changes in resources, species interactions, habitat structure, and habitat heterogeneity resulting from interactions among fire, grazing, and climate. Here, we review these ecological mechanisms influencing grassland arthropod diversity. We summarize hypotheses describing species diversity at local and regional scales and then discuss specific factors that may affect arthropod diversity in grassland systems. These factors include direct and indirect effects of grazing, fire, and climate, species interactions, above- and belowground interactions, and landscape-level effects.</p>1 aJoern, Anthony1 aLaws, A.  uhttps://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-ento-120811-153540