Abundance and Diversity of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) as Affected by Grazing Management in the Nebraska Sandhills Ecosystem

Abstract Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) serve a significant role in regulating ecosystem services on rangelands. However, the influence of grazing management on dung beetle communities remains largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate dung beetle abundance and diversity throughout the grazing season in the Nebraska Sandhills Ecoregion. Grazing treatments included: continuous grazing (CONT), low-stocking rotational grazing (LSR), high-stocking rotational grazing (HSR), and no grazing (NG). The abundance and diversity of dung beetles were measured in the 2014 and 2015 grazing seasons using dung-baited pitfall traps. Dung beetle abundance for each grazing treatment was characterized through four indices: peak abundance, species richness, Simpson’s diversity index, and Simpson’s evenness. A total of 4,192 dung beetles were collected through both years of trapping in this study. Peak abundance and species richness were greater in grazed treatments when compared to NG in both years. Peak abundance in the HSR was 200% (2014) and 120% (2015) higher than in the LSR. Species richness in the HSR was 70% (2014) and 61% (2015) higher than in the LSR, and 89% (2014) and 133% (2015) higher than in CONT. Simpson’s diversity index was lower in the NG and CONT treatments when compared to the LSR or HSR treatments for both years. We conclude that rotational grazing, regardless of stocking density, promoted dung beetle abundance and diversity within the Nebraska Sandhills Ecoregion.

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Assemblage Patterns of Hymenoptera at Different Elevations of Gunung Datuk, Rembau

Scientific Research Journal ◽

10.24191/srj.v14i2.9358 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Noor Nasuha Abd Aziz ◽

Siti Khairiyah Mohd Hatta ◽

Idris Abd Ghani ◽

Saiyid Jalaluddin Saiyid Shaifuddin

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Diversity Index ◽

High Elevation ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Index Site ◽

Evenness Index ◽

Abundance And Diversity ◽

Richness Index ◽

Paired T Test ◽

Malaise Traps

A study on abundance and diversity of Hymenoptera was conducted in Gunung Datuk, Rembau. Samplings were conducted from November 2014 to February 2015 using six Malaise traps. Three traps were placed at Site 1 at 700m height for high elevation and the remaining traps were placed at Site 2 at 200m height for low elevation. A total number of 221 Hymenopteran were collected which consist of nine families namely Ichneumonidae, Formicidae, Braconidae, Bethylidae, Evaniidae, Tiphiidae, Vespidae, Pompilidae and Apidae. In this study, 93 individuals were obtained from Site 1, comprising nine families and 43 morphospecies while 127 individuals were obtained from Site 2 with nine families and 45 morphospecies. Formicidae was the most dominant family collected from both sites with a total of 104 individuals while the least family recorded was Apidae with only one individual. Shannon’s Weiner Diversity Index (H’) showed Site 1 had the higher diversity value with H’ = 3.17 compared to Site 2 with value H’ = 3.12. For Evenness Index, Site 1 had higher value compared to Site 2 with E’ = 0.84 and E’ = 0.82 respectively. Moreover, for Margalef Richness Index, Site 1 recorded R’ = 9.24 while site two recorded R’ = 9.08 which concluded that Site 1 had higher species richness compared to Site 2. Paired t-test showed that both sites had no significant difference with p>0.05. Overall study showed that the diversity and abundance of Hymenoptera in Gunung Datuk were low since the value of H’ is less than 3.50.

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Diversity and body size of dung beetles attracted to different dung types along a tropical land-use gradient in Sulawesi, Indonesia

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467409990423 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 53-65 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Shahabuddin ◽

Purnama Hidayat ◽

Sjafrida Manuwoto ◽

Woro A. Noerdjito ◽

Teja Tscharntke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Species Richness ◽

Body Size ◽

Habitat Type ◽

Dung Beetle ◽

Habitat Disturbance ◽

Dung Beetles ◽

Natural Forest ◽

Land Use Intensity ◽

Habitat Types

Abstract:Dung beetles are a functionally important component of most terrestrial ecosystems, but communities change with habitat disturbance and deforestation. In this study, we tested if dung beetle ensembles on dung of introduced cattle and of the endemic anoa, a small buffalo, are affected differentially by habitat disturbance. Therefore, we exposed 10 pitfall traps, five baited with anoa and five baited with cattle dung, per site in six habitat types ranging from natural and selectively logged rain forest to three types of agroforestry system (characterized by different management intensity) and open areas (n = 4 replicate sites per habitat type) at the margin of Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. We found 28 species, 43% of which were endemic to Sulawesi. Species richness, abundance and biomass declined from natural forest towards open area. Large-bodied species appeared to be more sensitive to habitat disturbance and the ratio of large to small-sized dung beetles declined with land-use intensity. Although selectively logged forest and cocoa agroforestry systems had lower species richness compared with natural forest, they appeared to maintain a high portion of species originally inhabiting forest sites. The similarity of dung beetle ensembles recorded at forest and agroforestry sites reflects the high similarity of some habitat variables (e.g. vegetation structure and microclimate) between both habitat types compared with open areas. Species richness and abundances as well as species composition, which was characterized by decreases in mean body size, changed with land-use intensity, indicating that dung type is less important than habitat type for determining ensemble structure of these Indonesian dung beetles.

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Response of Understory Bird Feeding Groups to Deforestation Gradient in a Tropical Rainforest of Cameroon

Tropical Conservation Science ◽

10.1177/1940082920906970 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

pp. 194008292090697

Author(s):

Mélanie A. Tchoumbou ◽

Elikwo F. N. Malange ◽

Claire T. Tiku ◽

Brice Tibab ◽

Jerome Fru-Cho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Diversity Index ◽

Bird Communities ◽

Selective Logging ◽

Habitat Types ◽

Frugivorous Birds ◽

Oil Palm Plantation ◽

Logged Forest ◽

Abundance And Diversity

Birds are crucial in maintaining the balance of many ecosystems and provide various ecological services. Understanding their sensitivity to human disturbances should be prioritized in understudy areas for effective conservation practices. Using mist nets, this study characterized mostly understory bird communities (insectivorous, frugivorous, granivorous, and nectarivorous birds) in three habitat types (pristine forest, selectively logged forest, and young oil palm plantation) in the Talangaye rainforest, Southwest Cameroon. A total of 845 birds belonging to 27 families and 85 species were recorded in the three habitats after 294 h of mist netting. Overall, the mist-netted community was largely dominated by insectivores, followed by frugivores, nectarivores, granivores, and carnivores. Although mean species richness, abundance, and Simpson diversity index did not vary significantly among habitat types, mean species abundance and diversity index decreased in selectively logged forest and young oil palm plantation and species richness increased in both habitats. The species richness, abundance, and diversity index for insectivorous and frugivorous birds were lowest in the young oil palm plantations. For granivores, species richness and abundance increased following selective logging and the establishment of oil palm plantation. The highest mean species richness and diversity index in nectarivores were recorded in the young oil palm plantations. The study showed that selective logging and establishment of oil palm plantation had variable effects on the bird communities in the Talangaye rainforest. Also, the frugivorous birds appeared to be more sensitive to both types of disturbances, while the insectivores were more sensitive to habitat loss/conversion.

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Changes in dung beetle communities along a gradient of tropical forest disturbance in South-East Asia

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467409990174 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 25 (6) ◽

pp. 677-680 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Janice Ser Huay Lee ◽

Ian Qian Wei Lee ◽

Susan Lee-Hong Lim ◽

Johannes Huijbregts ◽

Navjot S. Sodhi

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Ecosystem Services ◽

Tropical Forest ◽

Forest Disturbance ◽

Dung Beetle ◽

Peninsular Malaysia ◽

Dung Beetles ◽

Ecosystem Functions ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Biodiversity Changes

With increasing conversion of South-East Asian forests to human-dominated landscapes, dramatic changes in biodiversity are likely to have ramifications on ecosystem processes (Sodhi & Brook 2006). Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) have been used to investigate how biodiversity changes affect ecosystem functions (Larsen et al. 2005, Slade et al. 2007). Dung beetles provide important ecosystem services such as dung removal and secondary seed dispersal (Nichols et al. 2008) and have been shown to be reliable indicators of tropical forest disturbance (Gardner et al. 2008, Klein 1989). Here, we determine the effects of forest disturbance on the species richness of dung beetles and ecosystem functions they perform in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. As far as we know, there has been no known study published on dung beetle ecology on the Malay Peninsula. In this study, we test the hypothesis that old-growth forests contain dung beetle communities of higher species richness, abundance, biomass and larger body size. Previous studies have shown that changes in dung beetle communities have the potential to disrupt ecosystem services in natural habitats (Larsen et al. 2005, Mittal 1993). We also investigate whether dung removal is affected by forest disturbance and test the hypothesis that dung removal is reduced in more disturbed forests compared with less-disturbed forests.

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Effects of grazing intensity and the use of veterinary medical products on dung beetle biodiversity in the sub-mountainous landscape of Central Italy

10.7287/peerj.preprints.2358v1 ◽

2016 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mattia Tonelli ◽

José R. Verdú ◽

Mario E. Zunino

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Beta Diversity ◽

Central Italy ◽

Grazing Intensity ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

Dung Beetle ◽

Dung Beetles ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Medical Products ◽

The Impact

Grazing extensification and intensification are among the main problems affecting European grasslands. We analyze the impact of grazing intensity (low and moderate) and the use of veterinary medical products (VMPs) on the dung beetle community in the province of Pesaro-Urbino (Italy). Grazing intensity is a key factor in explaining the diversity of dung beetles. In the case of the alpha diversity component, sites with a low level of grazing activity – related in a previous step to the subsequent abandonment of traditional farming – is characterized by a loss of species richness (q = 0) and a reduction in alpha diversity at the levels q = 1 and q = 2. In the case of beta diversity, sites with a different grazing intensity show remarkable differences in terms of the composition of their species assemblages. The use of VMPs is another important factor in explaining changes in dung beetle diversity. In sites with a traditional use of VMPs, a significant loss of species richness and biomass is observed, as is a notable effect on beta diversity. In addition, the absence of indicator species in sites with a historical use of VMPs corroborates the hypothesis that these substances have a ubiquitous effect on dung beetles. However, the interaction between grazing activity and VMPs when it comes to explaining changes in dung beetle diversity is less significant (or is not significant) than the main effects (each factor separately) for alpha diversity, biomass and species composition. This may be explained if we consider that both factors affect the various species differently. In other words, the reduction in dung availability affects several larger species more than it does very small species, although this does not imply that the former are more susceptible to injury caused by the ingestion of dung contaminated with VMPs. Finally, in order to prevent negative consequences for dung beetle diversity, we propose the maintenance of a moderate grazing intensity and the rational use of VMPs. It is our view that organic management can prevent excessive extensification while providing an economic stimulus to the sector. Simultaneously, it can also prevent the abuse of VMPs.

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Assemblage Patterns of Hymenoptera at Different Elevations of Gunung Datuk, Rembau

Scientific Research Journal ◽

10.24191/srj.v14i2.4895 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Noor Nasuha Abd Aziz ◽

Siti Khairiyah Mohd Hatta ◽

Idris Abd Ghani ◽

Saiyid Jalaluddin Saiyid Shaifuddin

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Diversity Index ◽

High Elevation ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Index Site ◽

Evenness Index ◽

Abundance And Diversity ◽

Richness Index ◽

Paired T Test ◽

Malaise Traps

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Diversity and abundance of some insect fauna in Bhawal and Madhupur Sal forests of Bangladesh

Journal of Biodiversity Conservation and Bioresource Management ◽

10.3329/jbcbm.v7i1.57119 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 11-24

Author(s):

MAK Chowdhury ◽

MA Bashar

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Dominant Species ◽

Diversity Index ◽

Apis Cerana ◽

Biological Control Agents ◽

Insect Fauna ◽

Organic Debris ◽

Sal Forest ◽

Abundance And Diversity ◽

Dipteran Species

The abundance and diversity of insect fauna were studied from two deciduous sal forests of Bhawal and Madhupur located at central part of Bangladesh. A total of 544 individuals of insects of 61 species belonging to 54 genera, 33 families and 11 orders have been identified with Hymenoptera (31%) as the dominant order in species richness followed by Coleoptera (13%), Orthoptera (11%), Diptera (10%), Hemiptera (8%), Lepidoptera (8%), Odonata (8%), Homoptera (3%), Isoptera (3%), Neuroptera (3%) and Dictyoptera (2%). Bhawal scores higher Shannon-Weaver diversity index (Hʹ=3.725) compared to Madhupur (Hʹ=3.340). The Bhawal Sal Forest with the collected 341 (63%) insects and identified 53 (59%) species belonging to 10 orders was found more diverse in species richness than the Madhupur Sal Forest with 37(41%) species belonging to 11 orders identified from the collected 203 (37%) insect samples. Insects of the order Neuroptera were not recorded from Bhawal. Off the 61 species, 29(48%) species were common in both the forests, 24(39%) species were exclusive to Bhawal and eight (13%) species were exclusive to the Madhupur Sal Forest. Apis cerana of Hymenoptera was identified as the dominant species having 9% of the identified samples followed by dipteran species Musca domestica with 6% of the samples. Among the insect species 30 (49%) species were found playing beneficial role as biological control agents, predators, pollinators, honey producers and also organic debris recycler. On the other hand, 31(51%) species were found to be harmful causing damage to forest vegetation as well as human and wildlife at variable degrees. J. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2021, 7(1): 11-24

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Variegated tropical landscapes conserve diverse dung beetle communities

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.3125 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. e3125 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Cristiane Costa ◽

Victor Hugo F. Oliveira ◽

Rafaella Maciel ◽

Wallace Beiroz ◽

Vanesca Korasaki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Community Structure ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Dung Beetle ◽

Dung Beetles ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Forest Fragment ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Vegetation Heterogeneity ◽

Tropical Landscapes

BackgroundConserving biodiversity in tropical landscapes is a major challenge to scientists and conservationists. Current rates of deforestation, fragmentation, and land use intensification are producing variegated landscapes with undetermined values for the conservation of biological communities and ecosystem functioning. Here, we investigate the importance of tropical variegated landscapes to biodiversity conservation, using dung beetle as focal taxa.MethodsThe study was carried out in 12 variegated landscapes where dung beetles were sampled using six pitfall traps, 30 m apart from each other, along a transect in each studied landscape use and cover classes—LUCC (forest fragment and corridor, coffee plantation, and pasture). We baited each pitfall trap with 30 g of human feces and left open for a 48 h period. We also measured three environmental variables reflecting structural differences among the studied classes: canopy cover, local vegetation heterogeneity and soil sand content.ResultsWe collected 52 species and 2,695 individuals of dung beetles. We observed significant differences in the mean species richness, abundance and biomass among classes, with forest fragments presenting the highest values, forest corridors and coffee plantations presenting intermediate values, and pastures the lowest values. Regarding community structure, we also found significant differences among classes. Canopy cover was the only variable explaining variation in dung beetle species richness, abundance, biomass, and community structure. The relative importance of spatial turnover was greater than nestedness-resultant component in all studied landscapes.DiscussionThis study evaluated the ecological patterns of dung beetle communities in variegated tropical landscapes highlighting the importance of these landscapes for conservation of tropical biodiversity. However, we encourage variegation for the management of landscapes that have already been fragmented or as a complementary initiative of current conservation practices (e.g., protection of natural habitats and establishment of reserves).

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Species composition and community structure of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) compared among savanna and forest formations in the southwestern Brazilian Cerrado

Zoologia (Curitiba) ◽

10.3897/zoologia.37.e58960 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 37 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Jorge Luiz da Silva ◽

Ricardo José da Silva ◽

Izaias Médice Fernandes ◽

Wesley Oliveira de Sousa ◽

Fernando Zagury Vaz-de-Mello

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Species Diversity ◽

Deciduous Forest ◽

Dung Beetle ◽

Dung Beetles ◽

Gallery Forest ◽

Brazilian Cerrado ◽

Habitat Types ◽

Mato Grosso ◽

Species Richness And Abundance

Although dung beetles are important members of ecological communities and indicators of ecosystem quality, species diversity, and how it varies over space and habitat types, remains poorly understood in the Brazilian Cerrado. We compared dung beetle communities among plant formations in the Serra Azul State Park (SASP) in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Sampling (by baited pitfall and flight-interception traps) was carried out in 2012 in the Park in four habitat types: two different savanna formations (typical and open) and two forest formations (seasonally deciduous and gallery). A total of 5,400 individuals collected comprised 57 species in 22 genera. Typical savanna had the greatest species richness and abundance, followed by open savanna and deciduous forest, while the gallery forest had the fewest species but high abundance. Tunnelers (one of three main nesting behavior guilds) showed the greatest richness and abundance (except in the gallery forest, where one dweller species was extremely abundant) in all plant formations. We found that species richness and abundance of the dung beetle community are influenced by differences among plant formations. Habitat heterogeneity in the different plant formations along with anthropic influences (fire, habitat fragmentation) are cited as important factors that explain guild and species richness and distribution patterns. These results emphasize the importance of protected areas, such as SASP, for the maintenance and conservation of species diversity in the Brazilian Cerrado.

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Dung beetle community assemblages in a southern African landscape: niche overlap between domestic and wild herbivore dung

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485321000742 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

B. Sands ◽

N. Mgidiswa ◽

S. Curson ◽

C. Nyamukondiwa ◽

R. Wall

Keyword(s):

Niche Overlap ◽

Dung Beetle ◽

Dung Beetles ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Cattle Dung ◽

Mammal Species ◽

Wide Range ◽

Domestic Livestock ◽

Abundance And Diversity ◽

Diurnal Species

Abstract Dung beetles provide important ecosystem functions in semiarid environments, improving the physiochemical characteristics of the soil through tunnelling and burying nutrient-rich dung. In sub-Saharan Africa, diverse indigenous mammal communities support highly abundant dung beetle populations in savannah ecosystems. However, the conversion of landscapes to livestock agriculture may result in changes in the abundance and diversity of wild mammal species. This is likely to have significant impacts on dung beetle communities, particularly because domestic livestock dung may be contaminated with toxic residues of veterinary parasiticides. The environmental impact is likely to be affected by the degree of niche overlap between the beetle communities that colonize cattle dung and those that colonize the dung of wild mammals. We compared dung beetle communities between a pristine national park habitat dominated by large wild herbivores, and a pastoral farming community dominated by domestic livestock. Diurnal dung beetles were attracted to cattle dung in greater abundance and diversity compared to elephant, zebra or giraffe dung. Nocturnal/crepuscular dung beetles were attracted to non-ruminant dung (elephant and zebra) in higher abundance compared to ruminant dung (cattle and giraffe). Although there were no clear trophic specializations, three diurnal species showed an association with cattle dung, whereas eight nocturnal/crepuscular species showed an association with non-ruminant (elephant and zebra) dung. Diurnal species may be at greater risk from the toxic effects of residues of veterinary parasiticides in domestic livestock dung. Although many species showed trophic associations with wild herbivore dung, these beetles can utilize a wide range of dung and will readily colonize cattle dung in the absence of other options. As more land is converted to livestock agriculture, the contamination of dung with toxic residues from veterinary parasiticides could therefore negatively impact the majority of dung beetle species.

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