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Effects of dung-pad conditions and density on coprophagous beetle assemblages in a Mediterranean rangeland

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Abstract

Dung beetles highly depend on the ephemeral microhabitat dung which is food resource and larval habitat at the same time. Environmental conditions surrounding a dung pad, such as vegetation structure, have an impact on dung beetle assemblages. We investigated the influence of dung conditions and surrounding habitat characteristics on Mediterranean dung beetle assemblages in a permanently grazed landscape in northern Sardinia. We sampled the dung beetle assemblages of donkey and horse dung in three different vegetation types and assessed species richness and abundance of dung beetles. Species richness was determined by dung and surrounding habitat conditions, whereas abundance was solely affected by dung conditions. However, species richness and abundance decreased with increasing dung density. The effect of dung density on species richness varied depending on vegetation type, with dry grassland exhibiting the highest number of dung beetles species at high dung density. Species composition in dung pads was influenced by abiotic factors with dwellers being negatively affected by increasing dung-pad temperature. Our results underline the importance of diverse vegetation, particularly with respect to the complexity of vegetation which interrelates with the microclimate. Furthermore, our findings illustrate the negative effect of high dung densities on dung beetle assemblages, suggesting that the degree of the intensity of use by grazing animals is important when considering measures for the conservation of dung beetles.

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Acknowledgements

Field work permits were granted by the Asinara National Park. We are very grateful for the logistic support of the Ente Parco of the Asinara National Park, especially Giovanni Careddu. We further thank Hannah Graen for her commitment during fieldwork. The Marianne and Dr. Fritz Walter Fischer-Foundation (Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft) is acknowledged for financial support (T192/23337/2012).

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  1. Jörn Buse

    Present address: Black Forest National Park, Kniebisstr. 67, 72250, Freudenstadt, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecology and Environmental Education Group, Institute of Biology and Chemistry, University of Hildesheim, Universitätsplatz 1, 31134, Hildesheim, Germany

    Julia T. Treitler & Jasmin Mantilla-Contreras

  2. Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Fortstr. 7, 76829, Landau, Germany

    Jörn Buse

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, Viale Guglielmo Marconi 446, 00146, Rome, Italy

    Giuseppe M. Carpaneto

  4. Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100, Bolzano, Italy

    Stefan Zerbe

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  1. Julia T. Treitler
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Correspondence to Julia T. Treitler.

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Treitler, J.T., Buse, J., Carpaneto, G.M. et al. Effects of dung-pad conditions and density on coprophagous beetle assemblages in a Mediterranean rangeland. Biodivers Conserv 26, 1431–1444 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-017-1308-x

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