@article {1446,
	title = {Potential distribution modelling, niche characterization and conservation status assessment using GIS tools: a case study of Iberian Copris species},
	journal = {Biological Conservation},
	volume = {122},
	year = {2005},
	pages = {327-338},
	abstract = {Dung beetle populations, in decline, play a critical ecological role in extensive pasture ecosystems by recycling organic matter; thus the importance of their conservation status. Presence data available for Copris hispanus (L.) and Copris lunaris (L.) (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) in Comunidad de Madrid (CM), and BIOMAPPER, a GIS-based tool, was used to model their environmental niches. The so derived potential distributions of both species were used to exemplify the utility of this kind of methodologies in conservation assessment, as well as its capacity to describe the potential sympatry between two or more species. Both species, distributed along a Dry-Mediterranean to Wet-Alpine environmental conditions gradient, overlap in areas of moderate temperatures and mean annual precipitations in the north of CM. Copris are poorly conserved in the existing protected sites network, but protection provided by new sites included in the future Natura 2000 Network will improve the general conservation status of these species in CM. =},
	keywords = {Copris, Dung beetle conservation, GIS predictive niche-modelling, Iberian Peninsula, Species distribution},
	author = {Chefaoui, Rosa M. and Hortal, Joaquin and Lobo, Jorge M.}
}
@article {1923,
	title = {How does the knowledge about the spatial distribution of Iberian dung beetle species accumulate over time?},
	journal = {Diversity and Distributions},
	volume = {13},
	year = {2007},
	pages = {772-780},
	abstract = {Different distribution maps can be obtained for the same species if localities where species are present are mapped at different times. We analysed the accumulation of information over time for a group of dung beetle species in the Iberian Peninsula. To do this, we used all available information about the distribution of the group as well as data on selected species to examine if the process of discovery of species distribution has occurred in a climatically or spatially structured fashion. Our results show the existence of a well-defined pattern of temporal growth in distributional information; due to this, the date of capture of each specimen can be explained by the environmental and spatial variables associated to the collection sites. We hypothesize that such temporal biases could be the rule rather than the exception in most distribu- tional data. These biases could affect the weighting of environmental factors that influence species distributions, as well as the accuracy of predictive distribution models. Systematic surveys should be a priority for the description of species geographical ranges in order to make robust predictions about the consequences of habitat and climate change for their persistence and conservation. },
	keywords = {Biodiversity databases, collecting biases, distribution maps, Dung beetles, Iberian Peninsula, spatial distribution, species distribution ranges},
	author = {Lobo, Jorge M. and Baselga, Andres and Hortal, Joaquin and Jimenez-Valverde, Alberto and Gomez, Jose F.}
}
@article {1929,
	title = {Los escarabeidos y geotrupidos de la comunidad de Madrid: lista de especies, distribucion geografica y patrones de diversidad (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea, Scarabaeidae y Geotrupidae},
	journal = {Graellsia},
	volume = {62},
	number = {numero ext},
	year = {2006},
	pages = {419-438},
	abstract = {In this work we summarize the main characteristics of Geotrupidae and Scarabaeidae (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea) fauna inhabiting Comunidad de Madrid, including an upda- ted checklist of species as well as maps representing the observed and potential distri- butions of all species. Geographical variation in species richness, rarity or endemicity was also estimated, with a brief discussion on the geographical pattern obtained. },
	keywords = {checklist, Comunidad de Madrid, Dung beetles, endemicity, Geotrupidae, Iberian Peninsula, rarity, Scarabaeidae, Species distribution, species richness},
	author = {Lobo, Jorge M. and Hortal, Joaquin}
}
@article {1930,
	title = {Regional and local influence of grazing activity on the diversity of a semi-arid dung beetle community},
	journal = {Diversity and Distributions},
	volume = {12},
	year = {2006},
	pages = {111-123},
	abstract = {This study analyses the effect of resource availability (i.e. sheep dung) on dung beetle communities in an arid region of Central Spain, both at regional and at local scales. A total of 18 sites within 600 km2 were sampled for the regional analysis and 16 sites within the 30 km2 of an Iberian municipality were sampled for the local ana- lysis. Spatial and environmental characteristics of sampling sites were also compiled at both scales, including measures of grazing activity (livestock density at regional scale, and two counts of rabbit and sheep dung at local scale). At a regional scale, any environmental or spatial variable can help to explain the variation in abundance. However, species richness was related to summer precipitation and composition was related to elevation. At local scale, abundance is not significantly related to any of the environmental variables, but species richness was related to the local amount of sheep dung (27\% of variance). The amount of dung in a 2-km buffer around the site accounts for 27{\textendash}32\% of variance in abundance and 60{\textendash}65\% of variance in species richness. The presence of the flock with the highest sheep density explains 53\% of abundance variability and 73\% of species richness variance. A cluster analysis of localities identified two main groups, one characterized by a lower abundance and species richness that can be considered a nested subsample of the species-rich group. The mean and maximum amount of sheep dung in the sites separated by less than 2 km are the only significant explanatory variables able to discriminate both groups. These results suggest that grazing intensity (and the associated increase in the amount of trophic resources) is a key factor in determining local variation in the diversity and composition of dung beetle assemblages. However, dung beetle assem- blages are not spatially independent at the analysed resolution, and the amount of dung in the surroundings seems to be more important for locally collected species than the dung effectively found in the site. Although differences in the availability and quantity of trophic resources among nearby sites could be affecting the popula- tion dynamics and dispersion of dung beetles within a locality, sites with larger popu- lations, and greater species numbers would not be able to exercise enough influence as to bring about a complete local faunistic homogenization.},
	keywords = {Resource availability, Scarabaeidae, semi-arid ecosystems, sheep grazing activity, species richness determinants},
	author = {Lobo, Jorge M. and Hortal, Joaquin and Cabrero-Sanudo, Francisco-Jose}
}
