@article {1321, title = {Short-term temporal variability in the abundance of tropical dung beetles}, journal = {Insect Conservation and Diversity}, volume = {1}, year = {2008}, pages = {120-124}, abstract = {1. Dung beetles are increasingly being used as a focal taxon in biodiversity and conservation studies. One of the alleged advantages of these insects is that sampling conducted in a few days can yield accurate data. 2. Dung beetles were collected twice, within a week, in a tropical dry forest in Mexico. The abundance of one species, Onthophagus landolti, increased 16 times in one of the habitats, over a period of a few days. Consequently, conclusions regarding differences between both habitats differed greatly depending on which sampling period was considered. 3. Short-term temporal variability in the abundance of dung beetles, particularly if spatially asymmetric, must carefully be considered when designing sampling protocols for this group of insects in dry tropical forests. }, keywords = {Chamela, dung beetle, Scarabaeidae, temporal variability, tropical dry forest}, author = {Andresen, Ellen} } @article {1334, title = {Response of dung beetle assemblages to landscape structure in remnant natural and modified habitats in Southern Mexico}, journal = {Insect Conservation and Diversity}, volume = {1}, year = {2008}, pages = {253-262}, abstract = {1. To provide reliable tools for landscape management in tropical regions, it is important to recognise the emergent properties of landscape heterogeneity and to understand their influence on different components of biodiversity. 2. The effects of habitat type, patch size and shape, canopy cover, distance between habitats, and elevation were examined on the partitioned diversity (alpha, beta and gamma) of dung beetles in a transformed landscape in southern Mexico. 3. In total, 4109 individuals belonging to 28 species of dung beetle were recorded in the entire landscape. Alpha diversity was similar among habitats, although species com- position was more similar between forest remnants and living fences than between living fences and pastures. Beta diversity was related to differences in elevation and distance between habitats. The distance between fragments was significantly correlated with the mean number of beetle captures and species richness per site. Gamma diversity depended more on species turnover (beta diversity) than on local species richness. 4. In general, living fences and pastures with trees, and small forest patches retain a significant proportion of the fauna typically associated with pristine forest habitats. The remaining tracts of forest, along with the contemporary landscape elements may offer suitable habitats for future recolonisation by other insect species in heavily disturbed landscapes in tropical Mexico.}, keywords = {Alpha and beta diversity, biodiversity, indicator groups, landscape management, living fences, pastures, Scarabaeinae, tropical dry forest.}, author = {Arellano, Lucrecia and Leon-Cortes, Jorge L. and Halffter, Gonzalo} } @article {1335, title = {Patterns of abundance and movement in relation to landscape structure: a study of a common scarab (Canthon cyanellus cyanellus) in Southern Mexico}, journal = {Landscape Ecology}, volume = {23}, year = {2008}, pages = {69-78}, keywords = {agro-pasture systems, animal movement, Chiapas, diffusion, functional connectivity, hedgerow, Scarabs, state-space model, tropical deciduous forest}, author = {Arellano, Lucrecia and Leon-Cortes, Jorge L. and Ovaskainen, Otso} } @article {1342, title = {First report of perching behavior by dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in scarp forests of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa}, journal = {African Entomology}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, year = {2008}, pages = {132-133}, type = {short communication}, author = {Ballerio, A.} } @article {1391, title = {Error cascades in the Biological Sciences: the unwanted consequences of using bad taxonomy in Ecology}, journal = {Ambio}, volume = {37}, number = {2}, year = {2008}, month = {Mar}, pages = {114-118}, author = {Bortolus, Alejandro} } @article {1441, title = {Male reproductive status affects contest outcome during nidification in Canthon cyanellus cyanellus LeConte (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)}, journal = {Behaviour}, volume = {145}, number = {12}, year = {2008}, pages = {1811-1821}, author = {Chamorro-Florescano, Ivette A. and Favila, Mario E} } @article {1566, title = {The Evolution of Animal Weapons}, journal = {Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics}, volume = {39}, year = {2008}, pages = {387-413}, author = {Emlen, D. J.} } @article {1580, title = {Temporal shifts in dung beetle community structure within a protected area of tropical wet forest: a 35-year study and its implications for long-term conservation}, journal = {Journal of Applied Ecology}, volume = {45}, year = {2008}, pages = {1584-1592}, author = {Escobar, F. and Halffter, G and Solis, A and Halffter, V and Navarrete, D} } @article {1723, title = {Composici{\'o}n y riqueza de una comunidad de escarabajos peloteros (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) en los Yungas bajos de la Cordillera Mosetenes, Bolivia}, journal = {Revista Boliviana de Ecologia y Conservaci{\'o}n Ambiental}, volume = {23}, year = {2008}, pages = {39-49}, author = {Hamel, C and Herzog, S and Mann, D} } @article {1785, title = {Dung beetle assemblages in forests and pastures of El Salvador: a functional comparison}, journal = {Biodiversity Conservation}, volume = {17}, year = {2008}, pages = {2961-2978}, abstract = {This study examines the functional attributes of Neotropical dung beetles, and, based on the analysis, evaluates the role of dung beetles in pastures and tropical dry forest in El Salvador. Dung beetle diversity was lower in pastures than in forests. However, the total biomass of beetles at similarly-sized dung baits was frequently higher in pastures. Diversity loss followed structured patterns: (1) carrion and fruit feeding beetles were well represented (species number) in the forests but were largely absent from pastures; (2) large ball rollers and small fast tunnellers were present in forests but were absent from pastures; (3) large fast tunnellers and small slow tunnellers were poorly represented in pastures com- pared to forests but the few species that survived in pastures attained extremely high popu- lations; and (4) each functional group in the species-poor pasture assemblages was divided almost equally into day and night active species. Substrate and habitat generalists that were present in both the forests and pastures were attracted to fruit and carrion in forested habitat but not in open pastures. In open habitats, Xies and other insects may be the principal decomposers of decaying fruit and carrion. }, keywords = {carrion, decomposition, deforestation, Diversity-function, functional groups, guilds, Scarabaeidae, tropical pastures}, author = {Horgan, Finbarr G} } @article {1838, title = {Relative efficiency of extensive grazing vs. wild ungulates management for dung beetle conservation in a heterogeneous landscape from Southern Europe (Scarabaeinae, Aphodiinae, Geotrupinae)}, journal = {Biological Conservation}, volume = {141}, year = {2008}, pages = {2879-2887}, abstract = {The goal of this paper is to evaluate the relative efficiency of two strategies that favour dung beetles conservation (Scarabaeinae, Aphodiinae, Geotrupinae) in Southern Europe: exten- sive grazing and wild ungulate management. We conducted a study in the French Ce ́ vennes national park/UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve where dung beetles are distributed in a dichotomous sheep (grasslands, shrublands) and deer (clearings, shrublands, forests) drop- pings dominating abroad landscape. Natural sheep droppings and deer lumps dung beetle assemblages have been sampled two consecutive years during spring, summer and autumn in five representative habitats. This sampling of natural assemblages allowed for the estimation of (i) the density of trophic resource in the habitats, (ii) the regional dung beetle fauna and the distribution of species among the habitats and (iii) the density of bee- tles in natural droppings and the evenness of assemblages. High diversity, high species density in droppings and high evenness were observed in grazed shrubland, whereas fewer species were observed in deer lumps. Our results clearly showed that, while wild ungulates manure is not enough to ensure the conservation of the regional dung beetle species pool, the spatial habitat heterogeneity of grazed shrubland allows the local coexistence of numerous species. Consequently, one may expect that the conservation of European dung beetle fauna, especially Scarabaeinae and several long lifetime species, could be enhanced by extensive grazing. }, keywords = {assemblage, dung beetle, land-use, Pastureland, Southern Europe}, author = {Jay-Robert, Pierre and Niogret, Jerome and Errouissi, Faiek and Labarussias, Maureen and Paoletti, Eleonore and Vazques Luis, Maite and Lumaret, Jean-Pierre} } @article {1858, title = {Optimal investment in sons and daughters when parents do not know the sex of their offspring}, journal = {Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology}, volume = {62}, year = {2008}, pages = {607-615}, abstract = {Optimal parental i nvestment usually differs depending on the sex of the offspring. However, parents in most organisms cannot discriminate the sex of their young until those young are energetically independent. In a species with physical male{\textendash}male competition, males are often larger and usually develop sexual ornaments, so male offspring are often more costly to produce. However, Onthophagus dung beetles (Coleoptera; Scarabaeidae) are highly dimorphic in secondary sexual characters, but sexually monomorphic in body size, despite strong male{\textendash}male competition for mates. We demonstrate that because parents provide all resources required by their offspring before adulthood, O. atripennis exhibits no sexual size dimorphism irrespective of sexual selection pressure favoring sexual dimorphism. By con- structing a graphic model with three fitness curves (for sons, daughters, and expected fitness return for parents), we demonstrate that natural selection favors parents that provide both sons and daughters with the optimal amount of investment for sons, which is far greater than that for daughters. This is because the cost of producing small sons, that are unable to compete for mates, is far greater than the cost of producing daughters that are larger than necessary. This theoretical prediction can explain sexual dimorphism without sexual size dimorphism, widely observed in species with crucial parental care such as dung beetles and leaf- rolling beetles, and may provide an insight into the enigmatic relationship between sexual size dimorphism and sexual dimorphism.}, keywords = {dung beetle, Onthophagus, Optimal investment, Sexual dimorphism, Sexual size dimorphism}, author = {Kishi, Shigeki and Nishida, Takayoshi} } @article {1905, title = {Understanding trait-dependent community disassembly:dung beetles, density functions and forest fragmentation.}, journal = {Conservation Biology}, volume = {22}, number = {5}, year = {2008}, pages = {1288-1298}, author = {Larsen, T. H. and Lopera, A. and Forsyth, A.} } @article {1908, title = {Pre- and post-copulatory mate selection mechanisms in an african dung beetle, Circellium bacchus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)}, journal = {Journal of Insect Behavior}, volume = {21}, year = {2008}, pages = {111-122}, abstract = {Females of most taxa mate selectively. Mate selection may be: (1) pre- copulatory, involving active female choice and male-male competition, and (2) post- copulatory, with cryptic female choice and sperm competition. Because female dung beetles (Circellium bacchus) invest heavily in parental care by ball-rolling and remaining with developing larva they are, therefore, expected to be highly selective when mating. Mate choice in this species was investigated via behavioral observations and investigations of genital allometry of both sexes, leading to conclusions about the mechanisms of, and male characteristics important in, female choice. Male{\textendash}male competition seems to be crucial in mate selection of C. bacchus, although the females appeared to show no active mate choice. There is a negative allometric relationship between genital size and body size of males as predicted by the {\textquoteleft}one size fits all{\textquoteright} hypothesis (where males have genitalia that fit average-sized females). For the females, no relationship was found between genital size and body size. This might be as a result of the non-sclerotized nature of female genitalia, which may allow for greater morphological plasticity.}, keywords = {genital allometry ., male, mate choice ., Sexual selection ., {\textendash}male competition ., {\textquoteleft}one size fits all{\textquoteright} hypothesis}, author = {Le Roux, Elizabeth and Scholtz, Clarke H. and Kinahan, A. A. and Bateman, P. W.} } @article {1915, title = {Evolution of mammals and their gut microbes}, journal = {Science}, volume = {320}, year = {2008}, month = {june}, pages = {1647-1651}, abstract = {Mammals are metagenomic in that they are composed of not only their own gene complements but also those of all of their associated microbes. To understand the coevolution of the mammals and their indigenous microbial communities, we conducted a network-based analysis of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences from the fecal microbiota of humans and 59 other mammalian species living in two zoos and in the wild. The results indicate that host diet and phylogeny both influence bacterial diversity, which increases from carnivory to omnivory to herbivory; that bacterial communities codiversified with their hosts; and that the gut microbiota of humans living a modern life-style is typical of omnivorous primates.}, author = {Ley, Ruth E. and Hamady, Micah and Lozupone, Catherine and Turnbaugh, Peter J. and Ramey, Rob Roy and Bircher, J. Stephen and Schlegel, Michael L. and Tucker, Tammy A. and Schrenzel, Mark D. and Knight, Rob and Gordon, Jeffrey I.} } @article {1674, title = {The cost-effectiveness of biodiversity surveys in tropical forests}, journal = {Ecology Letters}, volume = {11}, year = {2008}, pages = {139-150}, abstract = {The identification of high-performance indicator taxa that combine practical feasibility and ecological value requires an understanding of the costs and benefits of surveying different taxa. We present a generic and novel framework for identifying such taxa, and illustrate our approach using a large-scale assessment of 14 different higher taxa across three forest types in the Brazilian Amazon, estimating both the standardized survey cost and the ecological and biodiversity indicator value for each taxon. Survey costs varied by three orders of magnitude, and dung beetles and birds were identified as especially suitable for evaluating and monitoring the ecological consequences of habitat change in our study region. However, an exclusive focus on such taxa occurs at the expense of understanding patterns of diversity in other groups. To improve the cost-effectiveness of biodiversity research we encourage a combination of clearer research goals and the use of an objective evidence-based approach to selecting study taxa. }, keywords = {biodiversity, cost-effectiveness, indicator species, sampling efficiency, Tropical forests}, author = {Gardner, T. A. and Barlow, J. and Araujo, I. S. and Avila-Pires, T. C. and Bonaldo, A. B. and Costa, J. E. and Esposito, M. C. and Ferreira, L. V. and Hawes, J. and Hernandez, M. I. M. and Hoogmoed, M. S. and Leite, R. N. and Lo-Man-Hung, N. F. and Malcolm, J. R. and Martins, M. B. and Mestre, L. A.} } @article {1675, title = {Understanding the biodiversity consequences of habitat change: the value of secondary and plantation forests for neotropical dung beetles}, journal = {Journal of Applied Ecology}, volume = {45}, number = {3}, year = {2008}, pages = {883-893}, abstract = {1. Secondary and plantation forests are becoming increasingly widespread in the tropics. A recent meta-analysis on the impacts of land-use change on tropical forest dung beetles concluded that regenerating forests can be effective in helping to offset species loss following deforestation. How- ever, our understanding of the extent to which these results can be generalized to new locations remains very poor. 2. We attempted to overcome many of the design limitations that characterize previous studies by collecting spatially independent dung beetle samples from primary, secondary and Eucalyptus plantation forests in north-east Brazilian Amazonia across a large quasi-experimental landscape that minimized confounding edge and fragmentation effects. 3. We recorded 9203 dung beetles, comprising 85 species. Species richness was significantly higher in primary forest and the majority of species were more abundant there than elsewhere, whereas secondary and plantation sites harboured an impoverished subset of primary forest species. 4. Our data illustrate the low value of tropical secondary and plantation forests for dung beetles in our study area, and our conclusions are more pessimistic than those of earlier studies. 5. Because of differences in the order of species rank-abundance and rank-biomass patterns, re-coding community data from abundance to biomass significantly altered the analytical weight of individual species in determining community patterns. Larger bodied beetles were more prone to local extinctions and abundance declines and this effect was consistent both within and between genera. 6. Synthesis and applications . Our study demonstrates that secondary and plantation forests in a large neotropical landscape host exceptionally impoverished dung beetle communities. Furthermore, the depletion of beetle abundance combined with a reduction in average body mass in converted forests is likely to have detrimental consequences for the maintenance of dung beetle-mediated ecosystem services in these habitats. Differences in biogeographical and landscape context, and the influence of common limitations in sampling design, may explain why many other studies have painted a more optimistic picture of the conservation value of anthropogenic habitats. In the absence of further evidence we caution strongly against the claim that forest regeneration schemes on degraded land can effectively offset the loss of species following deforestation, and urge that conservation strategies prioritize the protection of remaining areas of primary forest.}, keywords = {biomass, brazil, deforestation, habitat change, habitat value, sampling bias, Scarabaeinae, Tropical forests}, author = {Gardner, T. A. and Hernandez, M. I. M. and Barlow, J. and Peres, C. A.} } @article {1992, title = {Invasao de areas de savana intra-amazonicas por Digitonthophagus gazella (Fabricius, 1787) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)}, journal = {Acta Amazonica}, volume = {38}, number = {1}, year = {2008}, pages = {153-158}, abstract = {This work aimed to verify the invasion of the dung beetles community from intra-Amazonian savanna by the African species Digitonthophagus gazella (Fabricius 1787). The research was carried out near Alter do Chão village (2o 31{\textquoteright} S; 55o 00{\textquoteright} W), 36 Km Southwest of Santarém, Pará, Brazil. Twenty two areas were sampled, from 21 July to 13 August 2003, using 66 baited pitfall traps (cattle dung, human faeces and carcass bait). D. gazella individuals were found in four of twenty two sampled areas. The presence of the species in the savanna was analysed by a logistic regression, using the occurrence of burnings in the last six years, species richness and abundance of native Scarabaeinae, and abundance of Canthon sp1, (the most abundant species in the region), as explanatory variables. Except for the total abundance of native Scarabaeinae, none of the variables were statistically significant for the presence of D. gazella. Hypothetically, these results were probably due to a non-analysed factor related to the invasibility of the area by D. gazella, or lack of time for the species to disperse and establish in all the areas, or a resistance of native dung beetle community to D. gazella invasion. Nevertheless, there must be a competitive mechanism of invasion resistance bounding the abundance of native species and D. gazella invasibility. }, keywords = {Amazonian, biological invasion, brazil, Tropical ecosystem}, author = {Matavelli, Rodrigo Augusto and Louzada, Julio N. C.} } @article {2062, title = {Dugn beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) diversity in continuous forest, forest fragments and cattle pastures in a landscape of Chiapas, Mexico: the effects of anthropogenic changes}, journal = {Biodiversity Conservation}, volume = {17}, year = {2008}, pages = {2869-2898}, abstract = {We studied the diversity of dung beetles in three different habitats in the Lacandona Forest, Chiapas, Mexico. We found a total of 49 species. Of these, 44 were in well-preserved forests (SC) within the limits of the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve, 42 in fragmented forests (SF), and 13 in cattle pastures (PZ). These two latter habitats were part of a fragmented landscape. Even though the species richness between the two forest habitats is similar, there is a change in guild composition and structure. About 12\% of the species were exclusively found in SC, while 4.1\% and 2\% were exclusive of SF and PZ respectively. b diversity was the most important element for overall diversity (c), above that of the local richness (a). Within well-preserved forests, species composition changes substantially, even among neighboring sites. Species diversity within the landscape seems to depend on canopy coverage, soil temperature and geographic distance between sites. Functional groups vary with the habitat. Large-bodied, nocturnal species with specific requirements of soil temperature and compaction are more sensitive to anthropogenic changes. In cattle pastures there is a larger number of heliophilic species, with a higher percentage of small-bodied and roller beetles.}, keywords = {alpha}, author = {Navarrete, Dario and Halffter, Gonzalo} } @article {2073, title = {Ecological functions and ecosystem services of Scarabaeine dung beetles: a review}, journal = {Biological Conservation}, volume = {141}, number = {6}, year = {2008}, pages = {1461-1474}, keywords = {dung beetle, ecological economics, ecosystem function, ecosystem service, human health}, author = {Nichols, E. and Spector, S. and Louzada, J and Larsen, T. and Amezquita, S and Favila, M. and The Scarabaeinae Reaearch Network} } @article {2079, title = {First report of whip scorpions (Arachnida: Uropygi) feeding on dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)}, journal = {Boletin de la Sociedad Entomologica Aragonesa}, volume = {42}, year = {2008}, pages = {451-452}, abstract = {Dung beetles are among the most inrportanl insect groups in ecosystems, but despite th{\textexclamdown}s l{\textexclamdown}ttle information exists about their predators. In the present study, predation on dung beetles by whip scorpions is reported for the first time, based on observations carried out under captivity. Further research and analyses of tl-re predators of this groLrp are necessary.}, keywords = {Arachnida, COLEOPTERA, Colombia, Dichotomius, Mastigoproctus, predation, Scarabaeidae, Uropygi, whip scorpions}, author = {Noriega, Jorge and Botero Trujillo, Ricardo} } @article {2081, title = {Brief note: First report of the genus Tetramereia Klages, 1907 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Phanaeini) in Colombia - Notes to its distribution}, journal = {Biota Colombiana}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, year = {2008}, pages = {133-135}, keywords = {Colombia, Dung beetles, Phanaeini, Scarabaeidae, Tetramereia}, author = {Noriega, Jorge and Rengifo, Juan Manuel and Vaz-de-Mello, Fernando Z.} } @article {2098, title = {Rapid antagonistic coevolution between primary and secondary sexual characters in horned beetles}, journal = {Evolution}, volume = {62}, number = {9}, year = {2008}, month = {sep}, pages = {2423-2428}, abstract = {Different structures may compete during development for a shared and limited pool of resources to sustain growth and differ- entiation. The resulting resource allocation trade-offs have the potential to alter both ontogenetic outcomes and evolutionary trajectories. However, little is known about the evolutionary causes and consequences of resource allocation trade-offs in natural populations. Here, we explore the significance of resource allocation trade-offs between primary and secondary sexual traits in shaping early morphological divergences between four recently separated populations of the horned beetle Onthophagus taurus as well as macroevolutionary divergence patterns across 10 Onthophagus species. We show that resource allocation trade-offs leave a strong signature in morphological divergence patterns both within and between species. Furthermore, our results suggest that genital divergence may, under certain circumstances, occur as a byproduct of evolutionary changes in secondary sexual traits. Given the importance of copulatory organ morphology for reproductive isolation our findings begin to raise the possibility that secondary sexual trait evolution may promote speciation as a byproduct. We discuss the implications of our results on the causes and consequences of resource allocation trade-offs in insects. }, keywords = {Aedeagus, Horned beetle, Onthophagus, resource allocation trade-off, speciation}, author = {Parzer, Harald F. and Moczek, Armin P.} } @article {2109, title = {Rapid shape divergences between natural and introduced populations of a horned beetle partly mirror divergences between species}, journal = {Evolution and Development}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, year = {2008}, pages = {166-175}, abstract = {Onthophagus taurus is a polyphenic beetle in which males express alternative major (horned) and minor (hornless) morphologies largely dependent on larval nutrition. O. taurus was originally limited to a Turanic--European-- Mediterranean distribution, but became introduced to several exotic regions in the late 1960s. Using geometric morphometrics, we investigate the present-day morphological shape differentiation patterns among native (Italian) and introduced (Western Australian and Eastern US) popu- lations. We then contrast these divergences to those observed between native O. taurus and its sympatric sister species O. illyricus. Our analysis failed to find significant divergences between O. taurus populations in external morphological traits (head, pronotum) when analyses were conducted separately for each sex. However, when sexes and male morphs were analyzed together, three important differences among populations emerged. First, relative warp analyses showed that native and introduced populations diverged in certain shape components that normally distin- guish major and minor male morphs. Second, comparison of covariation of body regions (head vs. pronotum) in the three populations showed that populations diverged in the nature of this covariation, suggesting that different body regions are not totally constrained to evolve in concert. Lastly, and most importantly, the analysis of genitalic shape revealed little to no divergence of female genitalia, but unexpected substantial differentiation of male genitalia among the three O. taurus populations. This suggests that genitalic shape divergence can occur extremely rapidly even in the absence of sympatry and possible reinforcement, and that the genitalia of males and females may diverge independent of one another, at least during the early stage of interpopulational divergence. Interpopulation divergences in O. taurus mirrored aspects of interspecific divergences between O. taurus and O. illyricus in some cases but not others. }, author = {Pizzo, A. and Roggero, A. and Palestrini, Claudia and Moczek, Armin P. and Rolando, Antonio} } @article {2158, title = {Habitat fragmentation and the functional efficiency of temperate dung beetles}, journal = {Oikos}, volume = {117}, year = {2008}, pages = {1659-1666}, abstract = {To understand how current patterns of habitat loss and fragmentation will ultimately affect ecosystem functioning, we need to match experimental manipulations of community structure with real changes occurring in the landscapes of today. In this study, we examine the consequences of habitat fragmentation on a key function: the decomposition of dung by invertebrates. In a microcosm experiment, we use previous observations of dung beetle assemblage structure in fragmented and intact landscapes to create realistic differences in assemblages of small, dung-dwelling species in the genus Aphodius. We ask whether such differences will affect ecosystem functioning, and how their effects compare to those of removing full functional groups: dung-dwelling Aphodius, tunnelling Geotrupes stercorarius, and/or earthworms. As measured by changes in dung fresh weight, we observe an overriding impact of removing G. stercorarius, with the amount of dung remaining at any one time doubling if the species is excluded. Compared to this major effect, there seem to be less effects of removing Aphodius, ambiguous effects of excluding earthworms, and no detectable effects of relatively minor changes in Aphodius assemblages as induced by current levels of fragmentation. Overall, our results support the general notion that different species contribute highly unevenly to overall ecosystem functioning. Most importantly though, our findings suggest that the functional consequences of habitat loss will depend on taxon-specific responses to landscape modification. Only by addressing these responses may we predict the actual consequences of habitat loss.}, author = {Rosenlew, Helena and Roslin, Tomas} } @article {2247, title = {Trophic associations of a dung beetle assemblage (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in a woodland savanna of Botswana}, journal = {Environmental Entomology}, volume = {37}, number = {2}, year = {2008}, pages = {431-441}, abstract = {Species richness and abundance of dung beetles were assessed across a range of bait types that acted as surrogates for the food resources available in Chobe National Park, Botswana. These bait types were comprised of the dung of pig (omnivore), cattle (ruminant herbivore dropping {\TH}ne-{\TH}berd pads), sheep (pellet-dropping ruminant herbivore), and elephant (monogastric, nonru- minant herbivore producing coarse-{\TH}bered droppings), and chicken livers (carrion). Species richness was similar between traps baited with pig, cattle, and elephant dung but was relatively lower in those baited with sheep dung and carrion. In traps baited with pig dung, abundance was relatively greater than in all other bait types. A cluster analysis of species abundance distributions for the 30 most abundant species identi{\TH}ed four different patterns of bait type association at a 60\% level of similarity. All but 1 of the 15 species in cluster A were attracted primarily to the dung of omnivores and pad-dropping ruminant herbivores (pig and cattle). All seven species of cluster B were attracted primarily to coarse-{\TH}bered, nonruminant herbivore dung (elephant). All four species of cluster C were primarily carrion and pig dung associated, whereas all four species of cluster D were carrion specialists. In conclusion, the most abundant species were attracted to all bait types, but most species were largely specialized to different dung types or carrion, with dung attracting the majority of the fauna in terms of both species richness and abundance.}, keywords = {African savannas, bait types, Botswana, Scarabaeinae, trophic associations}, author = {Tshikae, B. Power and Davis, Adrian L. V. and Scholtz, Clarke H.} } @article {2284, title = {Escarabajos coprofagos (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) del Palmar de las Islas, Santa Cruz, Bolivia}, journal = {Kempffiana}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, year = {2008}, pages = {3-20}, abstract = {In Palmar de las Islas (Bolivian Chaco) through fall traps we study the richness, abundance and diversity of the dung beetles in four sites with different perturbation level, mainly for the bovine livestock. In two carried out samplings, one in the dry season (September 2006) and another in the humid season (February 2007), we capture a total of 8033 individuals corresponding to 58 species, Canthon lituratus was the most abundant species in all the sites. The bigger than richness (46 species) and abundance (3391 individuals) it was obtained in the Not Intervened Forest, while in the other sites with perturbation the richness and abundance was smaller. The humid season is a decisive factor for the increment of the richness of species and the number of individuals (57 species and 7956 individuals vs 11 species and 77 individuals). The results show the sensibility of the group before different perturbation levels and the relationship with the conservation levels. }, keywords = {Bolivia, Chaco Forest, Dung beetles, Palmar de las Islas, Scarabaeinae}, isbn = {1991-4652}, author = {Vidaurre, Tito and Gonzales, Lucindo and Ledezma, Maria Julieta} } @article {2285, title = {Effects of degradation and replacement of southern brazilian coastal sandy vegetation on the dung beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae)}, journal = {Biotropica}, volume = {40}, number = {6}, year = {2008}, note = {Dichotomius laevicollis~
Dichotomius schiffleri~
Dichotomius geminatus
Dichotomius semisquamosus
Dichotomius nisus~
Gromphas lacordairei
Ateuchus squalidus
Canthon staigi
Trichillum externepunctatum
Onthophagus aff. hirculus~
Pedaridium bidens

}, pages = {719-727}, abstract = {In this paper we address the effects of anthropogenic disturbance and replacement of Brazilian Coastal sandy vegetation (restingas) on dung beetles communities. We sampled dung beetles in the four main vegetative physiognomies of Guriri Island, Esp ́{\i}rito Santo State: forest restinga, restinga Clusia, disturbed restinga (from burning events), and pastures. We placed four sets of two pitfall traps (baited with horse and human dung) in four independent areas of each vegetation type, and collected 14,534 individuals of 13 dung beetle species. Neither log 10 of individuals nor log 10 of species richness were good predictors of restinga disturbance. However, a significant amount of variation in dung beetle abundance and richness could be explained by bait type. Ordination of these sites using hybrid multidimensional scaling revealed a gradient of habitat disturbance from undisturbed restinga samples to pasture. Dung beetle communities along this gradient demonstrated a complete turnover in species composition, from restinga-specialists to invasive and generalists species respectively. This complete turnover signals the local extirpation of forest-adapted species in disturbed and converted areas. Only a single dung beetle species in preserved restingas is protected by Brazilian law (Dichotomius schiffleri). Given the extent of the clearing of restinga habitat, the conservation status of dung beetles associated with restinga forest gives cause for concern. }, keywords = {biological invasion, brazil, coastal ecosystems, Dichotomius geminatus, Dichotomius laevicollis, Dichotomius nisus, Dichotomius schiffleri, Dichotomius semisquamosus, Gromphas lacordairei, insect conservation, Restinga, Scarabaeinae}, author = {Vieira, Leticia and Louzada, Julio N. C. and Spector, Sacha} } @article {2297, title = {Long-term Habitat Fragmentation and Dung Beetles in Alter do Ch{\~a}o,Amaz{\^o}nia, Brazil}, journal = {Tropical Conservation Science}, volume = {1}, number = {2}, year = {2008}, pages = {111-121}, keywords = {mammals}, author = {Vulinec, Kevina and Lima, A. P. and Carvalho-Jr. , E. and Mellow, D. J.} }