01392nas a2200133   4500008004100000245010600041210006900147490000700216520091600223100002101139700001401160700001801174856006601192       2022                        eng d00aHow and why grasshopper community maturation rates are slowing on a North American tall grass prairie0 aHow and why grasshopper community maturation rates are slowing o0 v183 a<p>Invertebrate growth rates have been changing in the Anthropocene. We examine rates of seasonal maturation in a grasshopper community that has been declining annually greater than 2% a year over 34 years. As this grassland has experienced a 1&deg;C increase in temperature, higher plant biomass and lower nutrient densities, the community is maturing more slowly. Community maturation had a nutritional component: declining in years/watersheds with lower plant nitrogen. The effects of fire frequency were consistent with effects of plant nitrogen. Principal components analysis also suggests associated changes in species composition&mdash;declines in the densities of grass feeders were associated with declines in community maturation rates. We conclude that slowed maturation rates&mdash;a trend counteracted by frequent burning&mdash;likely contribute to long-term decline of this dominant herbivore.</p>1 aKaspari, Michael1 aJoern, A.1 aWelti, E.A.R.  uhttps://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2021.0510