| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication: | 2006 |
| Authors: | C. Lee, Wall R. |
| Journal: | Journal of Natural History |
| Volume: | 40 |
| Pagination: | 1167-1177 |
| Date Published: | may |
| ISBN Number: | 0022-2933 print1464-5262 |
| Keywords: | cattle, decomposers, decomposition, Dung beetles, flies, Pastureland |
| Abstract: | Thesuccessionof insectscolonizingcowdunginsouthwest Englandwasexaminedover 2years, usingarrays of standardized1.5kg artificially constructedcow-dungpats incattle pasture. The seasonal patternof colonizationwasexaminedusingbatchesof 10patseachweekfor24weeksin 2001.Patswereleftexposedinthefieldfor7days,toallowcolonization,andwerethenbroughtback tothelaboratorytoawaitinsectemergenceandidentification.Overallseasonalchangesincommunity structurewererelativelygradual andsubtle; Coleopteraweregenerallymoreabundant earlier and Dipteralaterintheseason, andthenumberandorderof speciesarrival broadlymatchedprevious studies insimilar habitats.The temporalpatternofcolonizationofindividualpatswasexaminedinsix batchesof30patsconstructedinMay,June,andAugust/Septemberin2002.Groupsoffivepatswere recoveredandbrought backtothelaboratory1, 2, 4, 7, 14, or21daysafterconstruction. Overall, threebroad,butstatisticallydistinct,successional groupswereidentified,withthemaximumnumber ofcolonizerspresentinpatsthatwere4–7daysold.Thedatacontributevaluableinformationonthe temporal distributionandabundanceof dung-colonizingtaxainSouthWest England, aclearlocal understandingof whichisessential toallowtheeffectsof agricultural practiceswhichmaydamage dunginvertebratecommunities, suchaslivestockanthelmintictreatment, tobeassessed. |