Responses of assemblages of Orthoptera to management and use of ski slopes on upper sub-alpine meadows in the Austrian Alps

The Orthoptera assemblages occurring on sub-alpine ski slopes were compared with those found on neighbouring unskied meadows by making frequent transect counts at two pairs of sites in the Gastein valley in the Austrian Central Alps. On one of the ski slopes no Orthoptera were present, although two species were abundant on the control meadow a few meters away. On the second ski slope, the Orthoptera assemblage exhibited reduced species richness, lower densities of individuals and a generally accelerated rate of nymphal development compared to the control meadow populations. These results may be explained in terms of the changed habitat conditions on the ski slopes and the known biologies of the species concerned. The implications of the findings for winter tourism management in high altitude ecosystems are briefly discussed.