Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) and dung removal in Mexican livestock pastures

Abstract

In the present article, a summary and analysis of literature published in Mexico on the removal and burial of dung by dung beetles, a primary function that represents an ecosystem service of great importance for livestock production, is presented. Studies from distinct ecosystems are examined, emphasizing the findings in livestock pastures with active grazing in several different states of Mexico. In addition, the unpublished results of the authors obtained in pastures across an altitudinal gradient in central Veracruz are presented for a dung exposure time of 24 hours. No significant differences were found in species richness among sites. However, differences were found in the dung removal rate; higher values were found at the sites with higher elevation and lower values at sites with lower elevation. The species with the highest biomass included the 3 largest species and small but very abundant species. Nocturnal tunnelers reincorporated the largest quantity of dung over the first 24 hours; in contrast, rollers only removed dung at the lowest areas of the gradient (< 250 m asl). However, much more information is still required regarding the capacity of the different functional groups and dung beetle species for dung burial in the livestock production zones of Mexico.

Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in grazing lands of the Neotropics: A review of patterns and research trends of taxonomic and functional diversity, and functions

“…Even though there has been an increasing trend over the last five decades, it is indeed a new topic regarding grazing lands (e.g., Ortega-Martínez et al, 2016;Alvarado et al, 2019;Carvalho et al, 2021). There is a clear thematic dominance in terms of the countries that carry out this type of study (i.e., Mexico -Basto-Estrella et al, 2016;Ortega-Martínez et al, 2016;Huerta et al, 2018;Alvarado et al, 2019 andBrazil -Braga et al, 2013;Correa et al, 2019a;Carvalho et al, 2021). Most Latin American countries lack studies on ecosystem functions in grazing systems (see section 3.3).…”

Influence of landscape and livestock management on dung beetle diversity in tropical cattle pastures

“…However, in the context of relictual landscapes where native forests have been severely reduced, it is not yet clear how dung beetle diversity and species composition are affected by other vegetation covers such as secondary forests, tree plantations, and crops. In addition, dung beetle populations are affected by agrochemical residues (e.g., fertilizers and antiparasitics) as these directly reduce physiological condition and reproductive tness of individuals (Villada-Bedoya et al 2019,2021) with potential demographic effects on populations, which in the long term could impact on how dung beetles perform ecosystem functions like dung removal (Huerta et al 2018;Alvarado et al 2019). Given their sensitivity to landscape changes and local scale management practices, these insects provide information regarding pasture health, which has made them a useful ecological disturbance indicator (Nichols and Gardner 2011).…”

A simple technique to assess resource use in dung beetle breeding studies

“…Dung beetles perform a key ecosystem function: the removal of dung from pasture (Huerta et al, 2018; Menéndez et al, 2016; Ortega‐Martínez et al, 2016). Adult beetles remove dung to feed themselves and provision their offspring (Doube, 1990; Floate, 2011).…”