Communities of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) in the Steppe of Mongolia

Abstract

We studied the community structure of dung beetles in livestock dung within the steppe ecosystem of Mongolia. We found 15 species of dung beetles belonging to three families and representing two functional guilds, namely paracoprids and endocoprids. All species were found in the horse dung, but only 11 species inhabited cow dung, and except Geotrupes koltzei none of these species seemed linked exclusively to one kind of dung. A few species dominated the communities, specifi cally Aphodius comma, Aphodius altaicus and Aphodius antiquus. Among these, Aphodius comma was the predominant species, occupying 44.4% of total surveyed dungs. Species richness, biomass, and abundance of beetles per dung were signifi cantly higher in horse dung than cow dung. Abundance of beetles was signifi cantly higher in the middle of summer than in late summer, but species richness was not signifi cantly diff erent between the middle of and late summer. This study constitutes one of the fi rst eff orts to systematically understand dung beetle assemblages in the steppe of Mongolia, including the eff ects of dung types and environmental gradients on beetle communities.

Variation in Dung Removal Rates by Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) in a Temperate, Dry Steppe Ecosystem

“…The colonization of dung by a high-density of dung beetles belonging to different species has been reported from tropical and sub-tropical regions [37,38], where trapping can yield several hundred to thousands of individuals per trap [24,39]. Alternatively, the dry steppes of the temperate region support a low density of dung beetles [40], with an average number of individuals varying between 14 and 64, depending on dung types [41]. Little is known about dung removal rates by different dung beetles, and about intraspecific competition among dung beetles in this region.…”

“…Currently, there are 129 known species of scarabaeoid beetles belonging to 42 genera and 11 families in Mongolia, of which 80 species from 15 genera and four families belong to the coprophagous dung beetle clade, while others to the phytophagous scarab beetle clade [44]. Fifteen species of dung beetles from three families composed by dwellers and tunnellers were found in Khar Yamaat Nature Reserve [41], where we conducted the field experiments of the present study. However, completely lacking is the data on the contribution of dung beetles to livestock dung decomposition in Mongolia, although the country has extensive traditional nomadic animal husbandry.…”