Nesting behaviour of Canthon unicolor and C. histrio: a new subsocial nesting variation in dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Deltochilini)

Abstract Background Increasing temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns threaten the existence of many organisms. It is therefore informative to identify the functional traits that underlie differences in desiccation resistance to understand the response of different species to changes in water availability resulting from climate change. We used adult dung beetles as model species due to their importance to ecosystem services. We investigated: (i) the effect of physiological (water loss rate, water loss tolerance, body water content), morphological (body mass) and ecological (nesting behaviour) traits on desiccation resistance; (ii) the role of phylogenetic relatedness in the above associations; and, (iii) whether relatively large or small individuals within a species have similar desiccation resistance and whether these responses are consistent across species. Results Desiccation resistance decreased with increasing water loss rate and increased with increasing water loss tolerance (i.e. proportion of initial water content lost at the time of death). A lack of consistent correlation between these traits due to phylogenetic relatedness suggests that the relationship is not determined by a shared evolutionary history. The advantage of a large body size in favouring desiccation resistance depended on the nesting behaviour of the dung beetles. In rollers (one species), large body sizes increased desiccation resistance, while in tunnelers and dwellers, desiccation resistance seemed not to be dependent on body mass. The phylogenetic correlation between desiccation resistance and nesting strategies was significant. Within each species, large individuals showed greater resistance to desiccation, and these responses were consistent across species. Conclusions Resistance to desiccation was explained mainly by the dung beetles’ ability to reduce water loss rate (avoidance) and to tolerate water loss (tolerance). A reduction in water availability may impose a selection pressure on body size that varies based on nesting strategies, even though these responses may be phylogenetically constrained. Changes in water availability are more likely to affect dweller species, and hence the ecosystem services they provide.

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Large-scale spatial ecology of dung beetles

Ecography ◽

10.1034/j.1600-0587.2001.d01-207.x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 24 (5) ◽

pp. 511-524 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Tomas Roslin

Keyword(s):

Spatial Ecology ◽

Large Scale ◽

Dung Beetles

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Poorly known and possible myrmecophiles in the spider beetles and dung beetles: How rare can they be?

10.1603/ice.2016.107665 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

T. Keith Philips

Keyword(s):

Dung Beetles

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Dung beetles attendance based on the age differences of dung

10.1603/ice.2016.110825 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Etik Susanti

Keyword(s):

Age Differences ◽

Dung Beetles

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Halffter, Gonzalo, and Matthews, Eric G.: The Natural History of Dung Beetles of the Subfamily Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) – In: Folia Entomologica Mexicana México, D. F. (Soc. Mexicana de Entomologia), Nr. 12–14, 1966; 312 S., 52 Abb

Mitteilungen aus dem Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin Zoologisches Museum und Institut für Spezielle Zoologie (Berlin) ◽

10.1002/mmnz.4830450211 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 45 (2) ◽

pp. 426-427

Author(s):

F. Hieke

Keyword(s):

Natural History ◽

Dung Beetles ◽

History Of

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Wood Pastures: A Transitional Habitat between Forests and Pastures for Dung Beetle Assemblages

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12010025 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 25

Author(s):

László Somay ◽

Viktor Szigeti ◽

Gergely Boros ◽

Réka Ádám ◽

András Báldi

Keyword(s):

Functional Group ◽

Animal Health ◽

Habitat Type ◽

Dung Beetle ◽

Dung Beetles ◽

Livestock Grazing ◽

Pitfall Traps ◽

Assemblage Composition ◽

Beetle Assemblages

Wood pastures are home to a variety of species, including the dung beetle. Dung beetles are an important functional group in decomposition. Specifically, in terms of livestock manure, they not only contribute to nutrient cycling but are key players in supporting human and animal health. Dung beetles, however, are declining in population, and urgent recommendations are needed to reverse this trend. Recommendations need to be based on solid evidence and specific habitats. Herein, we aimed to investigate the role of an intermediate habitat type between forests and pastures. Wood pastures are key areas for dung beetle conservation. For this reason, we compared dung beetle assemblages among forests, wood pastures, and grasslands. We complemented this with studies on the effects of dung type and season at three Hungarian locations. Pitfall traps baited with cattle, sheep, or horse dung were used in forests, wood pastures, and pasture habitats in spring, summer, and autumn. Dung beetle assemblages of wood pastures showed transient characteristics between forests and pastures regarding their abundance, species richness, Shannon diversity, assemblage composition, and indicator species. We identified a strong effect of season and a weak of dung type. Assemblage composition proved to be the most sensitive measure of differences among habitats. The conservation of dung beetles, and the decomposition services they provide, need continuous livestock grazing to provide fresh dung, as well as the maintenance of wood pastures where dung beetle assemblages typical of forests and pastures can both survive.

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Bioethanolic yeasts from dung beetles: tapping the potential of extremophilic yeasts for improvement of lignocellulolytic feedstock fermentation

Biotechnology for Biofuels ◽

10.1186/s13068-021-01940-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Anita Ejiro Nwaefuna ◽

Karl Rumbold ◽

Teun Boekhout ◽

Nerve Zhou

Keyword(s):

Treatment Process ◽

Dung Beetles ◽

Production Costs ◽

Industrial Wastes ◽

Major Drawback ◽

Renewable Fuel ◽

Extreme Stress ◽

Pre Treatment ◽

The Cost ◽

Simultaneous Saccharification

AbstractBioethanol from abundant and inexpensive agricultural and industrial wastes possesses the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bioethanol as renewable fuel addresses elevated production costs, as well as food security concerns. Although technical advancements in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation have reduced the cost of production, one major drawback of this technology is that the pre-treatment process creates environmental stressors inhibitory to fermentative yeasts subsequently reducing bioethanol productivity. Robust fermentative yeasts with extreme stress tolerance remain limited. This review presents the potential of dung beetles from pristine and unexplored environments as an attractive source of extremophilic bioethanolic yeasts. Dung beetles survive on a recalcitrant lignocellulose-rich diet suggesting the presence of symbiotic yeasts with a cellulolytic potential. Dung beetles inhabiting extreme stress environments have the potential to harbour yeasts with the ability to withstand inhibitory environmental stresses typically associated with bioethanol production. The review further discusses established methods used to isolate bioethanolic yeasts, from dung beetles.

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