Restoring declining species through translocations: A test case using flightless grasshoppers in an urban setting

Abstract

Population translocations are used increasingly as a conservation strategy for vertebrates. However, relatively few attempts have been made to translocate invertebrates despite their potential benefits for food webs, and despite the practicality of undertaking such translocations in small areas including urban environments where space is limited. We conducted 36 translocations of 1851 individuals of the generalist flightless grasshopper Vandiemenella viatica across urban Melbourne, where 93% of its original habitat has been lost. We aimed to understand characteristics essential for grasshopper persistence and to investigate detection, occupancy, dispersal and habitat suitability throughout i..