@article {1966,
	title = {Horn possession reduces maneuverability in the horn-polyphenic beetle, Onthophagus nigriventris},
	journal = {Journal of Insect Science},
	volume = {6},
	number = {21},
	year = {2006},
	pages = {1-10},
	abstract = {Alternative male morphologies are common in a wide range of organisms and particularly extreme in horned beetles. Here, large males (majors) commonly develop extravagant weaponry such as horns or enlarged mandibles, whereas small males (minors) develop only rudimentary traits. In some taxa, including the genusOnthophagus, the transition from minors to majors occurs over a very small range of body sizes causing intermediate morphologies to be rare or absent from natural populations. Several studies have shown that majors use horns as weapons during male combat over females and that the possession of horns increases male fighting success, and presumably fitness. However, the advantages of a hornless morphology, if any, have remained elusive. Here the alternative male morphs are examined in the horn-polyphenic beetleOnthophagus nigriventris. In particular, the hypothesis was tested that lack of horns in minors increases their maneuverability inside tunnel systems in which these males sneak matings from major males. Using a simple behavioral assay the effects of horn possession on maneuverability were quantified inside an artificial tunnel. Minors were found to be significantly more mobile compared to majors. No such differences were found in mobility between similarly small and large females, which always lack horns. This suggests that mobility differences observed among male morphs are due to the presence or absence of horns rather than differences in body size. This notion was further supported in a second experiment in which surgical removal of horns significantly improved maneuverability, while subsequent re-attachment of horns reversed this effect. These results suggest that lack of horns increases male maneuverability inside tunnels and may thus be advantageous in the context of the particular social niche inhabited by minor males. The results are discussed in the context of the evolutionary ecology of horn-polyphenic beetles. },
	keywords = {ALTERNATIVE REPRODUCTIVE TACTICS, Horned beetle, phenotypic plasticity, Polyphenism, sexual selection},
	author = {Madewell, Richard and Moczek, Armin P.}
}
@article {2172,
	title = {Guild structure, diversity and succession of dung beetles associated with Indian elephant dung in South Western Ghats forests},
	journal = {Journal of Insect Science},
	volume = {6},
	number = {17},
	year = {2006},
	note = {Times Cited: 0},
	month = {Sep},
	pages = {1-12},
	abstract = {The diversity, guild structure and succession of dung beetles associated with Indian elephant dung is described in a deciduous forest site in Western Ghats, a hot spot of diversity in India. Dung beetles were collected using baited pitfall traps and from exposed dung pats in the forest at intervals of 1, 3, 5, 7, 15 and 21 days. Twenty-one dung beetle species belonging to the 3 major functional guilds were recorded. Abundance of dwellers was high compared to rollers deviating from earlier reports on the high abundance of rollers in the afrotropical regions. Dweller Drepanocerus setosus and tunneler Onthophagus bronzeus were the most abundant species. Dung pats aged 3-5 days attracted the highest abundance of dung beetles. Bray Curtis similarity index indicated low community similarity between different stages of succession. Species richness and abundance of tunnelers increased with dung age and decreasing moisture up to a threshold level, followed by a decrease. Rollers and dwellers did not show any significant relationship with dung moisture content. Further research is needed to estimate the dung beetle community associated with the dung pats of other mega herbivores as well as of elephant dung in other forests of the Western Ghats.},
	keywords = {Catharsius sagax, Copris davisoni, Copris repertus, Copris signatus, Drepanocerus setosus, Gymnopleurus melanarius, Heliocopris dominus, Liatongus indicus, Oniticellus cinctus, Onitis siva, Onitis subopacus, Ontho, Onthophagus bronzeus, Onthophagus cervus},
	isbn = {1536-2442},
	url = {<Go to ISI>://000241413800001 },
	author = {Sabu, T. K. and Vinod, K. V. and Vineesh, P. J.}
}
