TY - JOUR T1 - Dung Exploitation of the Dung Beetle Typhaeus-Typhoeus Coleoptera Geotrupidae JF - Oecologia Berlin Y1 - 1987 A1 - Brussaard, L A1 - Visser, W J F SP - 21 EP - 27 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - ECOLOGY FORAGING EFFICIENCY BEHAVIOR EVOLUTION RAINFALL KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- AB - This paper deals with the functional aspects of the exploitation of dung by the dung beetle Typhaeus typhoeus. In horizontal brood chambers of a nest in the soil these beetles make "dung sausages" chiefly from rabbit droppings, as a food source for the larvae. Their foraging behaviour was shown to be positively correlated with the occurrence of rainy periods. The beetles foraged more efficiently on clustered dung pellets than on dispersed ones. Body sizes of beetles were positively correlated with the lengths of the dung sausages from which they emerged. In laboratory experiments the lengths of the dung sausages made by a pair of beetles did not significantly differ within a wide range of frequencies of supply of various amounts of rabbit dung pellets, despite the longer time spent per dung sausage when less dung was supplied per unit of time. It is suggested that dung provisioning does not stop before the dung sausages have reached lengths (approximately 8.5-9.5 cm) anticipated by the lengths of the brood chambers. However, there appeared to be a critically low value between 1-2 and 4-5 dung pellets supplied per day, below which the finished dung sausages were significantly shorter (approximately 3.5 cm). When, at the places of settlement, dung was scarce near the nest entrances, the number of nests excavated by the beetles and, thus, the beetles' physical effect on the soil, was shown to be higher than when dung was plentiful near the nest. The ecological and evolutionary consequences of the foraging behaviour by the beetles are discussed. VL - 72 N1 - requested 1/6 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Geographical Distribution of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and Their Seasonal Activity in Southwestern Cape Province South Africa JF - Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa Y1 - 1987 A1 - Davis, A. L. V. SP - 275 EP - 285 KW - 30 species bush fly rainfall biological control agent KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Diptera-: Insecta- KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- AB - A total of 30 species of dung beetles was recorded in indigenous shrubland near Langebaan and a pasture of Kikuyu grass near Paarl over a period of 13 months. These species were divided into 2 groups according to their distribution between the rainfall regions of southern Africa. Group 1, which was numerically dominant at Langebaan, was largely endemic to the winter and bimodal rainfall regions and was principally active during the winter rainy season in the south-western Cape. Group 2, which was numerically dominant at Paarl, was widespread in the winter, bimodal and summer rainfall regions and was principally active during the summer dry season and beginning of the rainy season in the south-western Cape. The potential of these beetles as control agents of the dung-breeding bush fly in south-western Australia is discussed. VL - 50 N1 - Using Smart Source ParsingArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Dung Beetle Communities in the Aland Archipelago Finland JF - Acta Entomologica Fennica Y1 - 1983 A1 - Hanski, I. A1 - Kuusela, S. SP - 36 EP - 42 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Artiodactyls- KW - Bovidae-: Artiodactyla- KW - Chordata- KW - Chordates- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - Mammalia- KW - Mammals- KW - Nonhuman-Mammals KW - Nonhuman-Vertebrat KW - Vertebrata- VL - 42 N1 - Using Smart Source Parsing(Recd. 1984)Meeting19th scandinavian entomology conference, helsinki, finland, aug. 26 28, 1982. acta entomol fennEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Nocturnal Perching of Scarabaeine Dung Beetles Coleoptera Scarabaeidae in an Australian Tropical Rain Forest JF - Biotropica Y1 - 1991 A1 - Howden, H. F. A1 - Howden, A. T. A1 - Storey, R. I. SP - 51 EP - 57 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - plant leaf body length perch height foraging strategy new world KW - Plantae- KW - Plants- AB - Wongabel, a northeastern Queensland tropical, wet, evergreen forest, contains 22 species of Scarabaeinae dung beetles. Five of these species were observed to perch commonly on leaves at night. Length of the beetle and the height of its perch were recorded for each of 561 specimens. Unlike the New World tropical dung beetle perchers, no clear evidence was found that small species perched closer to the ground than larger species. The evidence gathered, at least for the four most common perchers, supports the hypothesis that perching is one type of foraging strategy. The similarities and differences between the Australian and New World perchers are discussed. VL - 23 N1 - Using Smart Source ParsingArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Changes in a Texas USA Dung Beetle Community between 1975 and 1985 Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae JF - The Coleopterists Bulletin Y1 - 1986 A1 - Howden, Henry F. A1 - Scholtz, Clarke H. SP - 313 EP - 316 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - onthophagus-gazella onthophagus-alluvius species diversity species abundance importation rainfall AB - A quantitative survey of dung beetles in May 1985 at Welder Wildlife Refuge, Sinton, Texas, resulted in 15 species with the two most common species, the introduced African Onthophagus gazella (Fab.) and the native O. alluvius H. & C., comprising 49% of the total samples. Neither of these was recorded during a similar survey 10 years previously. Three uncommon species recorded in the earlier survey were not taken in 1985. The appearance at Welder of O. gazella since 1975 illustrates a successful introduction, whereas the appearance of O. alluvius seems to be the effect of a well-documented increase in annual rainfall. VL - 40 N1 - Using Smart Source Parsing(Recd. 1987)ArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Dung pad residence time covaries with male morphology in the dung beetle Onthophagus taurus JF - Ecological Entomology Y1 - 1999 A1 - Hunt, John A1 - Kotiaho, Janne S. A1 - Tomkins, Joseph L. SP - 174 EP - 180 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Behavior- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - dung-pad-residence-time KW - emigration- KW - immigration- KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - male- KW - morphology- KW - Onthophagus-taurus [dung-beetle] (Coleoptera-): female- AB - 1. The immigration and emigration behaviours of Onthophagus taurus were investigated in a combination of field and laboratory experiments to examine patterns of dispersal in this species. 2. On average, the mean proportion of major males immigrating to baited pitfall traps decreased significantly with time. In contrast, the mean proportion of minor males and females did not change with time. 3. The time taken to emigrate from a dung pad differed significantly among major males, minor males, and females. This difference arose because major males spent a significantly shorter period of time residing within the dung pad. On average, more than 50% of major males had emigrated from the dung pads after 30 h, some 4 h earlier than minor males and females. 4. When the effects of body size were controlled, major males with longer horns were shown to have longer wings. Because major males spend more time in flight, longer wings may be an adaptation to more frequent dispersal. Alternatively, longer wings in major males may compensate for the production of aerodynamically costly horns. VL - 24 N1 - Using Smart Source ParsingArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Patterns of parental provisioning covary with male morphology in a horned beetle (Onthophagus taurus) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) JF - Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Y1 - 1998 A1 - Hunt, John A1 - Simmons, Leigh W. SP - 447 EP - 451 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - male- KW - male-dimorphism KW - morphology- KW - Onthophagus-taurus [horned-beetle] (Coleoptera-): female- KW - parental-care-patter KW - Reproduction- AB - Male dung beetles, Onthophagus taurus, are dimorphic for a secondary sexual trait, head horns. Horned males participate in the production of brood masses while hornless male do not. Here we examine the reproductive performance of females mated with males exhibiting alternative horn morphologies. We found that exposure to males may be costly for females in that it reduced the total number of brood masses produced. However, females paired with horned males produced significantly larger brood masses than females paired with hornless males or females producing broods alone. We discuss the possible selection pressures that may underly horn evolution in this genus. VL - 42 N1 - June, 1998ArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Maternal and paternal effects on offspring phenotype in the dung beetle Onthophagus taurus JF - Evolution Y1 - 2000 A1 - Hunt, J. A1 - Simmons, L. W. SP - 936 EP - 941 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Behavior- KW - body-size KW - brood-mass KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Evolution-and-Adaptation KW - horn-: size- KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - male- KW - male-p KW - Onthophagus-taurus [dung-beetle] (Coleoptera-): female- AB - Parents often have important influences on the development of traits in their offspring. One mechanism by which parents are able to influence offspring phenotype is through the level of care they provide. In onthophagine dung beetles, parents typically provision their offspring by packing dung fragments into a brood mass. Onthophagus taurus males can be separated into two discrete morphs: Large, "major" males have head horns, whereas "minor" males are hornless. Here we show that a switch in parental provisioning strategies adopted by males coincides with the switch in male morphology. Male provisioning results in the production of heavier brood masses than females will produce alone. However, unlike females in which the level of provisioning increases with body size in a continuous manner, the level of provisioning provided by males represents an "all-or-none" tactic with all major males providing a fixed level of provisioning irrespective of their body size. Offspring size is determined largely by the quantity of dung provided to the developing larvae so that paternal and maternal provisioning affects the body size and horn size of offspring produced. The levels of provisioning by individual parents are significantly repeatable, suggesting paternal and maternal effects as candidate indirect genetic effects in the evolution of horn size in the genus Onthophagus. VL - 54 N1 - Using Smart Source ParsingArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Effects of Macrocheles mites on longevity of males of the dimorphic dung beetle Onthophagus binodis JF - Journal of Zoology Y1 - 2001 A1 - Kotiaho, Janne S. A1 - Simmons, Leigh W. SP - 441 EP - 445 KW - Acarina-: Chelicerata- KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Behavior- KW - Cheli KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Macrocheles-merdarius (Acarina-) KW - Onthophagus-binodis (Coleoptera-): male- KW - Parasitology- AB - In this study we tested the nature of the phoretic relationship between the cosmopolitan mite Macrocheles merdarius and the dimorphic dung beetle Onthophagus binodis. We observed and experimentally manipulated the number of mites on individual beetles and tested how mite infestation affects male longevity. There was a significant effect of mites on male longevity: males in our mites-added treatment died on average 15 days earlier than males in our mites-removed treatment. Interestingly, the number of mites on males was significantly repeatable suggesting that individuals may differ in their susceptibility to infestation. Major males had more mites on them than minor males, and the proportion of mites on minor males was negatively density dependent. VL - 254 N1 - Using Smart Source ParsingArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Modification in the dung beetles communities on highland grasslands of the Iberian Central System (Spain) along an altitudinal gradient JF - Acta Zoologica Mexicana Nueva Serie Y1 - 1992 A1 - Lobo, Jorge M. SP - 15 EP - 31 KW - altitudinal-distribution KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Coleoptera- (Coleoptera-) KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Ecology- (Environmental-Sciences) KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - Physiology- AB - The effect of a moderated altitudinal variation (500 m) on the dung beetle communities is studied in highland grasslands of the Iberian Central System. The more is the altitude the less is the richness of these communities. This decrease is more important in the warm south slope stations than in the north slope stations, since south slope grasslands are inhabited for a larger number of species with small populations, which are unable to colonize grasslands of the highest altitude. The Scarabaeidae species are the principal component of this latter group. However there is not an altitudinal variation in the abundance. In addition, north-slope dung beetle communities have a lesser number of species, but similar number of individuals and larger biomass. These results are in accordance with a density compensation pattern. N1 - 1992ArticleSpanish; Non English ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Diversity, biogeographical considerations and spatial structure of a recently invaded dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) community in the Chihuahuan desert JF - Global Ecology and Biogeography Letters Y1 - 1996 A1 - Lobo, J. M. SP - 342 EP - 352 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Biogeography- (Population-Studies) KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - dung-beetle (Coleoptera-) KW - Ecology- (Environmental-Sciences) KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - Mexico- (North-America KW - Nearctic- KW - Physiology- AB - Analysis of the faunal composition and diversity of Mapimi dung beetle communities indicates that, while much poorer than those near the edges of the Chihuahuan desert, they may possibly have been even more so in the recent past, since at least four of the six captured species were introduced recently into North America. While their overall diversity and composition appear explicable in terms of historic and topographic factors, the regional variation in these communities between sample sites is argued to be a function of the interplay of the environmental requirements of the species and the quantity and quality of trophic resources available. VL - 5 N1 - 1996Research ArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Species diversity and composition of dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) assemblages in North America JF - Canadian Entomologist Y1 - 2000 A1 - Lobo, Jorge M. SP - 307 EP - 321 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Biodiversity- KW - biological-invasions KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - dung-beetles (Coleoptera-) KW - Insects- KW - introduced-species KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - North-America (Nearctic-region) KW - species-diversity KW - taxonom AB - Data from 18 studies carried out on dung beetles from temperate North America (north of 25degree latitude) are compared to verify the existence of some geographical pattern in the variation of three parameters: (1) species number, (2) taxonomic composition, and (3) number of introduced species. Southern localities are characterized by a larger number of species and a significantly higher number of scarabaeine species than northern localities (only southern communities located inside the Chihuahuan desert do not conform to this pattern). To explain the latitudinal pattern in faunistic composition and number of species, historical factors are postulated. Foreign species of the tribe Aphodiini seem to be more frequent in the northern localities where more aphodiine native species occur. In contrast, foreign species of the subfamily Scarabaeinae are not more frequent in the southern localities with a greater number of native scarabaeine species. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the more diverse assemblages of native dung beetle are more resistant to invasion by foreign species. VL - 132 N1 - Using Smart Source ParsingArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Decline of roller dung beetle (Scarabaeinae) populations in the Iberian peninsula during the 20th century JF - Biological Conservation Y1 - 2001 A1 - Lobo, Jorge M. SP - 43 EP - 50 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Iberian-Peninsula (Europe- KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - Palearctic KW - Population-Studies KW - roller-dung-beetle (Coleoptera-): Scarabaeinae- KW - Wildlife-Management (Conservation-) AB - A historical compilation of data on roller dung beetle occurrence in the Iberian peninsula was examined for temporal changes between the first and second half of the 20th century. Analysis of changes in the relative frequency of database records, individuals and 10-km UTM cells where the beetles occurred showed a decline in the occurrence of nine of the eleven species. A comparison of latitudinal and longitudinal mid-points of the 10-km UTM cells where each species occurs indicated that the range of most roller dung beetles in the Iberian peninsula has also contracted. Before 1950 a significant, positive and curvilinear relationship was found between the number of roller dung beetles and the area of coastal environments (sea, dunes, beaches and marshes); while in the second half of the 20th century the number of "roller" species is positively correlated with artificial pastureland and scrub areas. It is suggested that urban development of the coastal zones for tourism since 1950 has probably contributed greatly to the disappearance of many roller populations. It is recommended that some of the more affected species of roller dung beetles should be considered for inclusion among protected invertebrates. VL - 97 N1 - Using Smart Source ParsingArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - An intercontinental comparison of dung beetle diversity between two mediterranean-climatic regions: Local versus regional and historical influences JF - Diversity and Distributions Y1 - 1999 A1 - Lobo, Jorge M. A1 - Davis, Adrian L. V. SP - 91 EP - 103 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Aphodiinae- (Coleoptera-) KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Biodiversity- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - dung-beetle (Coleoptera-) KW - Iberian-Peninsula (Europe- KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - Population-Studies KW - Scarabaeidae- (Coleoptera-) AB - The species richness of biological communities is influenced by both local ecological, regional ecological, and historical factors. The relative importance of these factors may be deduced by comparison between communities in climatically and ecologically equivalent, but geographically and historically separate regions of the world. This claim is based on the hypothesis that community processes driven by similar local ecological factors lead to convergence in species richness whereas those driven by differing regional or historical factors lead to divergence. An intercontinental comparison between the winter rainfall regions of South Africa and the Iberian Peninsula showed that overall species richness of dung beetles was dissimilar at local, subregional and regional scales in Scarabaeidae s. str. but similar at all scales in Aphodiinae. Removal of species widespread in the summer rainfall region of Africa or the temperate region of Europe (regional component) resulted in dissimilarit y in species richness of mediterranean endemics at all scales in both dung beetle taxa. However, the lines joining each set of species richness values were parallel which may indicate similarities in processes between different mediterranean climatic regions despite slight differences in latitudinal range. The dominant pattern of dissimilarity or non-convergence may be related primarily to intercontinental differences in regional biogeographical and evolutionary history (faunal dispersal, glaciation effects in relation to geographical barriers to dispersal, speciation history, long-term disturbance history). The limited pattern of similarity or convergence in overall species richness of Aphodiinae may be a chance result or primarily related to intercontinental similarities in local ecological factors. VL - 5 N1 - Using Smart Source ParsingArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Local distribution and coexistence of Digitonthophagus gazella (Fabricius, 1787) and Onthophagus batesi Howden and Cartwright 1963 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) JF - Elytron Y1 - 1994 A1 - Lobo, Jorge M. A1 - Montes, De Oca Enrique SP - 117 EP - 127 KW - a KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Behavior- KW - Climatology- (Environmental-Sciences) KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Digitonthophagus-gazella (Organisms-Unspecified) KW - Ecology- (Environmental-Sciences) KW - Invertebrata- KW - Onthophagus-batesi (Coleoptera-) KW - Physiology- AB - With data coming from two Mexican Neotropical localities, an analysis of the main niche dimensions of two potential competitors was carried out: an introduced Indoafrican species (D. gazella) and a native one (O. batesi). Both species show similar daily activity. They coexist in grasslands bordering on tropical forest opened for cattle activity. Results show spatial segregation at local level: both species inhabit open areas but O. batesi less so. This latter species also inhabits the forest, mainly at the edge zones. The possible causes of this spatial segregation along the environmental gradient could be related with a different detection capacity of the two species. Since their flying activity occurs at dusk and dawn, we suggest that the detection of humidity has an important role in the observed segregation. We propose that the adults colonize dung pats located in places with suitable environmental conditions that secure progeny survivorship. However. the possibility of competition between these species, cannot be ruled out. From a historic-evolutive perspective the coexistence of both species is recent. It is necessary to determine the spatial behavior of either species where the other one is missing. What happens with possible interactions in overlapping zones (edge-grassland) and studies about immigration-emigration rates from dung pats in these zones, where the two species coexist, are questions for future research. VL - 8 N1 - 1994ArticleSpanish; Non English ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Diversity and spatial turnover of dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidae) communities in a protected area of South Europe (Donana National Park, Huelva, Spain) JF - Elytron Y1 - 1997 A1 - Lobo, Jorge M. A1 - Sanmartin, Isabel A1 - Martin, Piera Fermin SP - 71 EP - 88 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Aphodiidae- (Coleoptera-) KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Biodiversity- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Donana-National-Park (Spain- KW - dung-beetle (Coleoptera-): Scarabaeoidea- KW - Europe- KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - Palearctic-region): AB - Diversity and spatial turnover of the spring dung beetle community of Donana National Park (Huelva, Spain), one of the most important wildlife reserves in the Mediterranean area, were examined. The entire dung beetle community is estimated to comprise around 68 species. Coastal dunes and marsh proved to be the most singular habitats within Donana Reserve. Response of Scarabaeidae and Aphodiidae to habitat heterogeneity was different. Scarabaeidae fauna was highly homogeneous throughout the habitats whereas Aphodiidae showed higher rates of species turnover and some singular local communities, thus contributing to a greater extent to the regional diversity. Scarabaeidae family presents more ubiquitous species and lower values of beta diversity, so that its local and regional diversity converge. It is suggested that different adaptive strategies regard in resource partitioning (Scarabaeidae: tunnellers and ball-rollers; Aphodiidae: dwellers) can account for these differences. Although Donana National Park is home to a richer wild mammal fauna and non-human altered habitats, its dung beetle diversity is similar to that of other Spanish regions. VL - 11 N1 - 1997ArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Changes in Resources Consequences for the Dynamics of Dung Beetle Communities JF - Journal of Applied Ecology Y1 - 1992 A1 - Lumaret, J. P. A1 - Kadiri, N. A1 - Bertrand, M. SP - 349 EP - 356 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - sheep cattle coleoptera biomass mediterranean pasture ecosystem AB - 1. The effects of a change from sheep to cattle grazing on dung beetle communities were studied under Mediterranean conditions. 2. Five years after the beginning of a change in the grazing regime, dung resources had increased by a factor of 3 and led to a 3-fold increase in beetle numbers and a 2.5-fold increase in biomass. 3. Marked re-adjustments towards a new equilibrium occurred in the dung beetle communities, with drastic changes in the relative frequencies of many species. Dwellers became dominant, coexisting with medium and large tunnellers. No significant changes in species composition occurred during the same period. 4. Mediterranean pasture ecosystems show a strong resilience allowing them to re-adjust rapidly to the processes of recycling organic matter. VL - 29 N1 - Using Smart Source ParsingArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Howler Monkeys Alouatta-Palliata Dung Beetles Scarabaeidae and Seed Dispersal Ecological Interactions in the Tropical Rain Forest of Los Tuxtlas Mexico JF - Journal of Tropical Ecology Y1 - 1991 A1 - Estrada, Alejandro A1 - Coates-Estrada, Rosamond SP - 459 EP - 474 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Cebidae-: Primates- KW - Chordata- KW - Chordates- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - Mammalia- KW - Mammals- KW - Nonhuman-Mammals KW - Nonhuman-Primates KW - Nonhuman-Vertebrat KW - Vertebrata- AB - The dispersal of seeds by howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) and the activity of dung beetles in modulating the fate of the dispersed seed were studied at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. Howlers consumed the fruits of 35 species of plants. The seeds of 28 of these were dispersed by the monkeys. The majority (.gtoreq. 90%) of the seeds dispersed by monkeys were destroyed by rodents. Rapid relocation and burial of dung by dung beetles resulted in accidental relocation and burial of large number of seeds shortly after deposition. Faecal clumps (20 mg) remained on the ground for an average of only 2.5 h (range 1-3 h). Ball rolling beetles transported balls up to 5.0 m from the site of deposition (range 1-5 m). Burrowing and ball-rolling dung beetles buried seeds at depths ranging from 2.5 to > 12.0 cm. The deeper a seed is buried, the less likely it is to be found and eaten by rodents. Eighty percent of the species used by Alouatta as sources of fruit at Los Tuxtlas benefited by the dispersal and post dispersal service provided by howlers and dung beetles respectively. Seasonality in dung beetles abundance in the forest may influence the number of seeds per species escaping post-dispersal predation during the year. Dung beetles play not only an important ecological role in the recycling of matter and energy in the ecosystem, but also in the process of rain forest regeneration. VL - 7 N1 - Using Smart Source ParsingArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - The use of indicator groups for measuring biodiversity as related to community structure and function JF - Acta Zoologica Mexicana Nueva Serie Y1 - 1997 A1 - Favila, Mario E A1 - Halffter, Gonzalo SP - 1 EP - 25 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Biodiversity- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - dung-beetles KW - ecological-analysis: analytical-method KW - human KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - Methods-and-Techniques KW - Scarabaeinae- (Coleoptera-): indicator-group AB - In this study we discuss the reasons for using indicator groups to measure biodiversity at the species level ("organismal diversity" sensu Harper and Hawksworth). We further explore our previous proposals for the use of dung beetles belonging to the subfamily Scarabaeinae (Insecta: Coleoptera) as an indicator group for studying the types of communities found in tropical forests and derived formations, particularly those created by human activity. We present a method for obtaining quantifiable information that allows comparative studies to be done, as well as an analysis of the effects of human activities that result in the alteration, fragmentation and destruction of natural communities. Although emphasis is placed on the indicator group and the communities selected, we propose that this analysis of biodiversity can be used with other groups and in different community types. The arguments we present for the use of indicator groups can be applied to different ways of studying biodiversity at the species level, however this study focuses on presenting appropriate methodology for ecological analysis; that is, for the study of local biodiversity as an element for the interpretation of community structure and function. N1 - Dec., 1997Literature ReviewEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Comparison of Spatial Distribution Patterns of Dung-Feeding Scarabs Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Geotrupidae in Wooded and Open Pastureland in the Mediterranean Dehesa Area of the Iberian Peninsula JF - Environmental Entomology Y1 - 1991 A1 - Galante, E. A1 - Garcia, Roman M. A1 - Barrera, I. A1 - Galindo, P. SP - 90 EP - 97 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - dung elimination seasonal distribution trapping KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- AB - The seasonal and spatial distributions of dung-feeding scarabs in an open pastureland and in wooded (holm oak) pastureland in a typical Mediterranean area of the western part of the Iberian Peninsula (Salamanca) were compared. Six pitfall traps baited with bovine dung were placed in each habitat according to a model by J. P. Lumaret. Only beetles in the families Scarabaeidae and Geotrupidae were studied because they are the most for 1 yr produced 6,909 specimens. Of the 18 species found, the largest beetles and biomass were concentrated mainly in the wooded habitat, especially in the summer. This constitutes a problem for dung removal because large amounts of dung remain in open pasturelands, possibly resulting in the impoverishment of such areas. VL - 20 N1 - Using Smart Source ParsingArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Proximate determination of male horn dimorphism in the beetle Onthophagus taurus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) JF - Journal of Evolutionary Biology Y1 - 1999 A1 - Moczek, A. P. A1 - Emlen, D. J. SP - 27 EP - 37 KW - allometry- KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - body-size KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Evolution-and-Adaptation KW - horn-dimorphism KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - mor KW - Onthophagus-taurus [dung-beetle] (Coleoptera-): male- KW - Population-Studies AB - The existence of discrete phenotypic variation within one sex poses interesting questions regarding how such intrasexual polymorphisms are produced and modified during the course of evolution. Approaching these kinds of questions requires insights into the genetic architecture underlying a polymorphism and an understanding of the proximate mechanisms determining phenotype expression. Here we explore the genetic underpinnings and proximate factors influencing the expression of beetle horns - a dramatic sexually selected trait exhibiting intramale dimorphism in many species. Two relatively discrete male morphs are present in natural populations of the dung beetle Onthophagus taurus (Scarabaeidae, Onthophagini). Males exceeding a critical body size develop a pair of long, curved horns on their heads, while those smaller than this critical body size remain essentially hornless. We present results from laboratory breeding experiments designed to assess the relative importance of inherited and environmental factors as determinants of male morphology. Using father-son regressions, our findings demonstrate that horn length and body size of male progeny are not predicted from paternal morphology. instead, natural variation in an environmental factor, the amount of food available to larvae, determined both the body sizes exhibited by males as adults and the presence or absence of horns. The nonlinear scaling relationship between the body size and horn length of males bred in the laboratory did not differ from the pattern of variation present in natural populations, suggesting that nutritional conditions account for variation in male morphology in natural populations as well. We discuss our results by extending ideas proposed to explain the evolution of conditional expression of alternative phenotypes in physically heterogeneous environments toward incorporating facultative expression of secondary sexual traits. We use this synthesis to begin characterizing the potential origin and subsequent evolution of facultative horn expression in onthophagine beetles. VL - 12 N1 - Jan., 1999ArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Nesting and life-cycle of Sulcophanaeus menelas (Laporte, 1840) (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) JF - Elytron Barcelona Y1 - 1996 A1 - Morelli, Enrique A1 - Gonzalez, Vainer Patricia A1 - Canziani, Cecilia SP - 11 EP - 22 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - larva- KW - life-cycle KW - Neotropical-region) KW - Population-Studies KW - pupae- KW - Sulcophanaeus-menelas (Coleoptera-): Scarabaeidae- KW - Uruguay- (South-America AB - Sulcophanaeus menelas is a common dung beetle in Uruguay. Its life cycle and nesting behaviour are determined in the laboratory. Morphological descriptions of the larvae and the pupae are also included. VL - 10 N1 - 1996ArticleSpanish; Non English ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Habitat Associations and Community Analysis of South Texas Dung Beetles Coleoptera Scarabaeinae JF - Canadian Journal of Zoology Y1 - 1977 A1 - V. G. Nealis SP - 138 EP - 147 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - Plantae- KW - Plants- KW - usa canthon-imitator canthon-pilularius canthon-cyanellus canthon-vigilans glaphypocanthon-virids boreocanthon-ebenus melanoc AB - Baited pitfall traps were used to sample the Scarabaeinae dung beetle fauna in 6 habitats in south Texas [USA]. Habitats were defined according to their soil and vegetative cover characteristics. Most of the 19 scarab species [Canthon imitator, C. pilularis, C. cyanellus, C. vigilans, Glaphyrocanthon viridis, Boreocanthon ebenus, Melanocanthon bispinatus, Pseudocanthon perplexus, Atenchus histeroides, Copris fricator, C. remotus, Phanaeus difformis, Onthophagus orpheus, O. hecate, O. pennsylvanicus, O. oklahomensis, O. medorensis, O. shaefferi, Boreocanthon probus] collected displayed marked associations with a particular soil type (sand or clay) and (or) cover (shade or open). The result is the existence of distinct communities of coprophagous beetles, which differ in their species composition, species-abundance relations and efficiency of dung removal. A discussion of the evolution of these habitat associations and the ecological implications for pasture ecosystems is included. VL - 55 N1 - Using Smart Source ParsingArticle ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Habitat specificity in African dung beetles: The effect of soil type on the survival of dung beetle immatures (Coleoptera Scarabaeidae) JF - Tropical Zoology Y1 - 1994 A1 - Osberg, D. C. A1 - Doube, B. M. A1 - Hanrahan, S. A. SP - 1 EP - 10 KW - Allogymnopleurus-consocius (Coleoptera-) KW - Allogymnopleurus-thalassinus (Coleoptera-) KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - arthropod KW - Arthropoda- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Development- KW - Ecology- (Environmental-Sciences) KW - Invertebrata- KW - Pathology- KW - Physiology- KW - Soil-Science AB - The immature stages of two dung beetle species Allgymnopleurus thalassinus Klug 1855 and Allogymnopleurus consocius Peringuey 1900 were reared in the laboratory in three textural classes of soil under different conditions of soil moisture in order to determine whether differential mortality in different soil types could help explain the strong associations between soil type and beetle abundance in the field. Larvae survived well in dry and moist soil treatments, regardless of soil type, but poorly in wet soil treatments. The effect of soil moisture on the distribution of both species in different soil types is discussed. VL - 7 N1 - 1994ArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - The influence of horn and body size on the reproductive behavior of the horned rainbow scarab beetle Phanaeus difformis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) JF - Journal of Insect Behavior Y1 - 1994 A1 - Rasmussen, Janet L. SP - 67 EP - 82 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Behavior- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Development- KW - Ecology- (Environmental-Sciences) KW - Genetics- KW - in KW - Invertebrata- KW - morphology- KW - Phanaeus-difformis (Coleoptera-) KW - Physiology- KW - Reproductive-System (Reproduction-) AB - The reproductive behavior of horned rainbow scarab beetles, Phanaeus difformis, was studied to determine the influence of morphological traits on intersexual and intrasexual interactions. Phanaeus difformis is a sexually dimorphic dung beetle in which males possess much larger horns than females, and males can be grouped into "major" and "minor" male morph categories based on horn size. Male-female pairs cooperated in nest construction and provisioning. In the laboratory, males of both morphs assisted females and were equally successful at copulating. However, in the field larger individuals had a pairing advantage due to greater success in intrasexual competition. Some males used an alternative mating tactic which involved sneaking copulations with paired females. In most cases the sneak male was smaller than the paired male. VL - 7 N1 - 1994ArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - The Role of Dung Beetles in Nature and in the Economy JF - Przeglad Zoologiczny Y1 - 1980 A1 - Rojewski, C. SP - 431 EP - 438 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - coprophagic fly biological control soil effect dung pollution australia KW - Diptera-: Insecta- KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- AB - The influence of dung beetles on environment is studied. The acceleration of organic matter circulation as a result of burying the dung into the soil by the beetles is of principal importance. The mechanical effects of beetles activity in the soil is also beneficial. The dung beetles are a very important factor in controlling coprophagic fly populations. The practical utilization of dung beetles to control dung pollution in Australia is discussed. VL - 24 N1 - Using Smart Source Parsing(Recd. 1981)ArticlePolish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Male participation in nest building in the dung beetle Scarabaeus catenatus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae): Mating effort versus paternal effort JF - Journal of Insect Behavior. Y1 - 1998 A1 - Sato, Hiroaki SP - 833 EP - 843 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Behavior- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - dung-rolling KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - male- KW - male-participation KW - mating-effort KW - nes KW - nest-building KW - Scarabaeus-catenatus [dung-beetle] (Coleoptera-): female- AB - The dung beetle, Scarabaeus catenatus, shows not only the rolling but also the tunneling tactic for nest building with bisexual cooperation. Sex roles, however, differed between the tactics. In rolling, the male took in initiative like that of ball-roller species: he rolled a dung ball away and buried it. In tunneling, in contrast, the male usually had a secondary role like that of tunnelers: he was less active in burrow excavation and provisioning. Regardless of the tactics, male participation did not increase female reproductive output measured by the number or size of brood balls in the field, but seemed to function as mate guarding against conspecific males. This suggests that, in both tactics, the male S. catenatus invests primarily in mating effort compared with paternal effort. The relative importance of mating effort in male participation seems to hold true in other dung beetles, irrespective of whether they are ball-roller or tunneler species. In addition, the male matingstrategy of S. catenatus is compared with that of other ball-rollers. VL - 11 N1 - Using Smart Source ParsingArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Kleptoparasitism and phoresy in the diptera JF - Florida Entomologist Y1 - 1999 A1 - Sivinski, John A1 - Marshall, Steve A1 - Petersson, Erik SP - 179 EP - 197 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Behavior- KW - Diptera- (Diptera-) KW - Diptera-: Insecta- KW - Environmental-Sciences) KW - Evolution-and-Adaptation KW - Insects- KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrates- KW - kleptoparasitism- KW - m KW - mate-choice KW - Terrestrial-Ecology (Ecology- AB - Spiders, dung-feeding scarabs, social, and prey-storing insects provide predictable and concentrated sources of food for a variety of thief flies (kleptoparasites) and their larvae. Whenever waiting in the vicinity of the "host" for an opportunity to exploit its resources is more energy efficient and less dangerous than foraging among hosts, a number of intimate relationships between the fly and host may evolve. In extreme cases, flies may become long-term phoretic associates that travel with hosts even while the latter is in flight. The behaviors and ecologies of kleptoparasitic Diptera are reviewed with special attention paid to the adaptations of Sphaeroceridae phoretic upon Scarabaeidae. The mating systems of kleptoparasitic flies are influenced by the type of resource that is stolen; flies associated with predators are mostly female, while those found on scarabs are of both sexes. These differences are discussed in terms of mate location, sperm competition, and mate choice. VL - 82 N1 - Using Smart Source ParsingLiterature ReviewEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Brood care in the dung beetle Onthophagus vacca (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae): The effect of soil moisture on time budget, nest structure, and reproductive success JF - Ecography Y1 - 1996 A1 - Sowig,Peter SP - 254 EP - 258 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Behavior- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - Ecology- (Environmental-Sciences) KW - Invertebrata- KW - Onthophagus-vacca (Coleoptera-) KW - Physiology- KW - Reproductive-System (Reproduction-) KW - Scarabaeidae- (Coleoptera-) KW - Soil-Science AB - Under laboratory conditions brood care behaviour, nest structure and weight of dung supply in brood chambers of the dung beetle Onthophagus vacca proved to depend on water content of the soil beneath the dung. The substrate in a bucket beneath the dung pat was dry sand (4% water content) or moist sand (8% water content). Emigrating beetles were trapped and counted at 12 h intervals. In a total of 109 replicates one pair was released on an artificial 1000 g dung pat. From 95 replicates in which brood chambers were built the following results were derived: 1) Breeding females and resident males which helped the female stayed longer in dung pats on dry sand than in those on moist sand. 2) Nest architecture was influenced by substrate moisture: length of main tunnels did not differ between nests in dry and moist sand, but total length of side tunnels was shorter in dry sand. 3) Numbers of brood chambers were equal in both substrate types, weight of the dung supplies was larger in dry sand. 4) Offspring size was not only influenced by dung provision in the brood chambers. Beetles emerging from chambers in dry sand were smaller than those emerging from moist sand even if the amount of dung supply was equal. VL - 19 N1 - 1996ArticleEnglish ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Iridescent dung beetles: A different angle JF - Florida Entomologist Y1 - 1997 A1 - Vulinec, Kevina SP - 132 EP - 141 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Behavior- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - dung-beetle (Coleoptera-) KW - Ecology- (Environmental-Sciences) KW - Insects- KW - Integumentary-System (Chemical-Coordination-and-Homeostasis) KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrate KW - morphology- AB - Iridescence, in both the visible and ultraviolet (UV) spectra, is produced by various means and may serve several functions in different animals. In insects, such colors are often considered as anti-predator adaptations, either crypsis or aposematism, or a means of thermoregulation. A less explored alternative is social signaling. Iridescent colors are particularly useful in this context because they are brightest from certain directions and body orientation could be employed to direct a visual signal to particular receivers. In phanaeine dung beetles the head and prothoracic shield reflect a visible-light and UV iridescence that is best seen from a position facing the insect. The less iridescent male horn is silhouetted against the prothoracic shield. Since, horn size is indicative of male size, such a display may be directed to sexual competitors in agonistic interactions. Broad and reflective prothoracic surfaces on males might also be preferred by females choosing a mate, who will cooperate in future brood care, since they would make infestations of kleptoparasitic flies more obvious. VL - 80 N1 - 1997Research ArticleEnglish ER -