-The spatial changes in species composition are closely related to the environmental aspects associated to habitat variation. The natural landscapes of Minas Gerais are organized in mosaics, associated to anthropic action or natural factors. Here we study dung beetles in the Perdizes Plateau, Carrancas (Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil). The area of study has a landscape composed mainly by four phytophysiognomies: Brazilian savannah, altitudinal grasslands, rupestrian fi elds and forests. The objective of our study was to detect the spatial distribution in composition of dung beetles and estimate beta diversity between phytophysiognomies. The dung beetles were collected in four areas of each phytophysiognomy, using pitfall traps baited with carrion or human feces. A total of 2,363 individuals of 52 species were collected: 1,247 individuals of 29 species at the forest, 20 exclusive to this phytophysiognomy; 352 individuals of 17 species at the grassland, with four exclusive species; 386 individuals of 19 species at the Brazilian savannah, with fi ve exclusive species; and 378 individuals of 20 species at the rupestrian fi eld, with fi ve exclusive species. The traps baited with feces were the most effi cient in capturing dung beetles, and the forest was the phytophysiognomy with the highest diversity and abundance. This pattern indicates that plant-covering infl uences the structure of the dung beetle community. High beta diversity indicates that phytophysiognomies are complementary. However, the other phytophysiognomies are also important for conservation, once species composition occurring at each environment is essential for the maintenance of the regional diversity.KEY WORDS: Spatial distribution, dung beetle, diversity, ecology RESUMO -As mudanças espaciais da composição de espécies estão ligadas a aspectos ambientais da variação dos habitats. As paisagens naturais de Minas Gerais são organizadas em mosaicos criados pela ação antrópica ou por fatores naturais. O estudo realizou-se com escarabeíneos na Chapada das Perdizes, município de Carrancas, MG. A região apresenta quatro fi tofi sionomias principais: campo de cerrado, campo limpo, fl oresta e campo rupestre. O objetivo do estudo foi detectar diferenças na distribuição dos escarabeíneos e avaliar a diversidade beta (dissimilaridade de espécies) entre as fi tofi sionomias. Os escarabeíneos foram coletados com armadilhas do tipo alçapão, com isca de baço de boi ou fezes humanas, em quatro áreas de cada fi tofi sionomia. Foram coletados 2.363 indivíduos de 52 espécies: 1.247 indivíduos de 29 espécies na fl oresta, sendo 20 exclusivas dessa fi tofi sionomia; 352 indivíduos de 17 espécies no campo limpo, com quatro espécies exclusivas; 386 indivíduos de 19 espécies no campo de cerrado, com cinco espécies exclusivas; e 378 indivíduos de 20 espécies no campo rupestre, com cinco espécies exclusivas. A armadilha com fezes foi a mais efi ciente na captura e a fl oresta foi a fi tofi sionomia com maior diversidade e abundância de escarabeíneos. Isso suger...

Although many tropical savannas are highly influenced by humans, the patterns of biodiversity loss in these systems remain poorly understood. In particular, the biodiversity consequences of replacing native grasslands with exotic pastures have not been studied. Here we examine how the conversion of the native savanna grasslands affects dung beetle communities. Our study was conducted in 14 native (grassland: campo limpo), and 21 exotic (Urochloa spp. monoculture) pastures in Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. We collected 4996 dung beetle individuals from 66 species: 3139 individuals from 50 species in native pastures and 1857 individuals from 55 species in the exotic pastures. Exotic pastures had lower dung beetle richness, abundance and biomass than native pastures. Species composition between the two pasture types was significantly different and exotic pastures were dominated by few abundant species. Indicator species analysis detected 16 species indicators of native pastures and three of exotic pastures, according to relative abundance and frequency in each pasture system. Our results show that the conversion of native pastures to exotic pastures leads to a predictable loss of local species richness, increasing dominance and changes in species composition. These results highlight the importance of maintaining native pastures in the Cerrado agro-pastoral landscape.Abstract in Portuguese is available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/btp.

1. Although plantation forests are being established at an increasing rate, their effects on biodiversity are still debated.2. Native candeias [Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) Mac Leish] and exotic eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.) have recently been planted on Cerrado grasslands. The Cerrado is the second largest biome of Brazil and one of the most threatened savanna ecosystems.3. Here, we use dung beetles (Scarabaeinae) to investigate the effects of the landuse changes associated to afforestation on Cerrado insect biodiversity. We sampled dung beetles in candeia (4-and 6-year-old) and eucalyptus plantations (1-and 4-year-old), natural candeia formations (candeiais), native grasslands and natural forests.4. Dung beetle diversity in plantations was lower than in grasslands and forests, but was not different from diversity in natural candeiais. Candeia and 1-year-old eucalyptus plantations, grasslands and natural candeiais all had similar community composition, distinct from natural forests. Four-year-old eucalyptus plantations were intermediate between those two groups. Overall, afforestation was detrimental for dung beetles. 5. Differences between exotic and native plantations were only apparent in older plantations, and seemed to be due to differences associated to canopy openness rather than to the origin of the planted species. Candeia plantations were of better conservation value for open-area species (62% species shared between grasslands and candeia plantation) whereas eucalyptus plantations were so for forest species (26% species shared between forests and eucalyptus plantations). We recommend considering this result before deciding where to plant which species.

In this paper, we present the descriptions of two species of Cis Latreille, C. fiuzai sp. nov. and C. gumiercostai sp. nov., based on external morphology including male genitalia. We propose that these new species belong to the C. comptus group. These species are known from Araponga and Cardeal Mota (Minas Gerais State, Southeastern Brazil), respectively. Cis gumiercostai is the fourth species of Ciidae reported from the Cerrado vegetation (Brazilian Savana).