biostudies-literatureKaspari MNational Science Foundation20210510https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8790374biostudies-literatureUnknown18(1)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°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-declines in the densities of grass feeders were associated with declines in community maturation rates. We conclude that slowed maturation rates-a trend counteracted by fBiology lettersHow and why grasshopper community maturation rates are slowing on a North American tall grass prairie.PMC8790374DEB 105446600DEB 1440484Kaspari MJoern AWelti EARfalseHow and why grasshopper community maturation rates are slowing on a North American tall grass prairie.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°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-declines in the densities of grass feeders were associated with declines in community maturation rates. We conclude that slowed maturation rates-a trend counteracted by f2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Jan2025-04-26T04:46:26.725Z2024-10-15T07:39:21.781ZS-EPMC87903743507832810.1098/rsbl.2021.0510