Editorial: Grassland-invertebrate interactions: Plant productivity, resilience and community dynamics

Abstract

This research topic reports new findings and concepts on grassland invertebrate interactions in semi-natural and improved grasslands with emphasis on the effects of climate change, invasive species, and sustainable control methods of invasive pests. Five reviews, one opinion paper, two methods, and fourteen research articles explore the influence of biotic and environmental factors and management practices on the communities of invertebrates and their relationships with plants and natural enemies. The majority of contributions is dedicated to Australian and New Zealand grassland systems resulting from an invitation to the participants of the ninth Australasian Conference on Grassland Invertebrate Ecology held in Sydney in April 2016. Several studies on invertebrate communities in European grasslands complement our Topic.