@article {2368, title = {Co-declines in large mammals and dung beetles: an impending ecological cascade}, journal = {Oikos}, volume = {118}, year = {2009}, note = {[gmap markers=blank::40.782003745886755,-73.97163391113281 |zoom=15 |center=40.78531820515752,-73.9749813079834 |width=100\% |height=400px |control=Small |type=Satellite] }, pages = {481-487}, abstract = {Biodiversity loss can precipitate extinction cascades and impair ecological processes. These {\textquoteleft}downstream{\textquoteright} effects will be exacerbated if functionally important taxa are tightly linked with species threatened by extinction or population decline. We review the current evidence that such a scenario is currently playing out in the linked declines of persistently hunted
mammal populations and the dung beetles communities (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) that depend on them for adult and larval food resources. Through a close evolutionary association, mammal assemblages have played a fundamental role in structuring extant dung beetle communities. Today many game mammal species{\textquoteright} populations are severely depleted by subsistence or commercial hunting, especially in tropical forest systems. Multiple lines of evidence from temperate and tropical systems indicate that the regional-scale decline or extirpation of medium and large bodied mammal faunas can severely disrupt the diversity and abundance of dung beetle communities through alterations in the composition and availability of dung resources. These observed community disassemblies have significant short- and long-term implications for the maintenance of key ecosystem processes including nutrient recycling and secondary seed dispersal. Identifying the species- and community-level traits that buffer or exacerbate these species and functional responses is essential if we are to develop a better understanding of the cascading ecological consequences of hunting in tropical forests. }, keywords = {co-decline, conservation, decline, extinction, mammal, resource}, author = {Nichols, E. and Gardner, T. A. and Peres, C. A. and Spector, S.} } @article {2072, title = {Global dung beetle response to tropical forest modification and fragmentation: A quantitative literature review and meta-analysis}, journal = {Biological Conservation}, volume = {137}, number = {1}, year = {2007}, pages = {1-19}, abstract = {Although insects are crucial for maintaining ecosystem function, our understanding of their overall response to human activity remains limited. This is no less true of dung-burying beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), which provide a suite of critical ecosystem functions and services, yet but face multiple conservation threats, particularly from landscape conversion. Here we use a review and meta-analysis to synthesize the current knowledge concerning response to tropical forest modification and fragmentation of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae). For every modified habitat type and individual forest fragment across 33 studies, we calculated six dung beetle community parameters, standardized relative to intact tropical forest. We organized modified habitats along an approximate disturbance gradient ranging from selectively logged, late and early secondary forest, through agroforestry, tree plantations, to annual crops, cattle pastures and clear-cuts. Secondary forests, selectively logged forest and agroforests supported rich communities with many intact forest species, while cattle pastures and clear-cuts contained fewer species overall with few forest-dwelling species. Abundance generally declined with increasing modification, but was quite variable. Communities in open habitats were often characterized by hyper-abundance of a small number of small-bodied species, leading to low evenness. Across fragmentation studies, dung beetle species richness, abundance and evenness declined in smaller forest fragments. Richness and abundance sometimes declined in more isolated fragments, although this response appeared to depend on matrix quality. Across both habitat modification and fragmentation studies, geographic location and landscape context appeared to modify dung beetle response by influencing the available pool of colonists. We discuss potential underlying mechanisms and conclude with recommendations for management and conservation and for future research.}, keywords = {Agroforestry, community ecology, deforestation, Invertebrate, Land-use change, Scarabaeinae}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V5X-4ND710H-1/2/3d7a5f4362824647199ebdfd5821fa14 }, author = {Nichols, E. and Larsen, T. and Spector, S. and Davis, A. L. and Escobar, F. and Favila, M. and Vulinec, K.} } @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} }