First come, first serve: " sit and wait" behavior in dung beetles at the source of primate dung

Abstract

Neotropical Entomology 37(6): 641-645 (2008) El Primero que Llegue, Primero se Sirve: Comportamiento "Sentarse y Esperar" en los Escarabajos del Estiércol en la Fuente de Excremento de Primate RESUMEN -Los Escarabajos del estiércol (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) compiten intensamente por excrementos, un recurso escaso por el cual muchas especies forrajean en el sotobosque en bosques tropicales. En este artículo describimos el comportamiento particular de una especie de escarabajo del estiércol, Canthon aff. quadriguttatus (Olivier), asociado a dos especies de primates en Perú. Observamos esta especie de escarabajo en la región genital y anal de monos "tocones", Callicebus brunneus (Wagner), y subsecuentemente cayendo con excrementos que los monos defecaron. De manera similar, observamos individuos de esta especie de escarabajo asociados a monos "huapos", Pithecia irrorata irrorata (Gray). Mediante un comportamiento de "sentarse y esperar" a la fuente, C. aff. quadriguttatus llega primero a la fuente de excremento y aparentemente supera a otras especies de escarabajos en la competencia por el mismo recurso. Este artículo representa el primer registro de C. aff. quadriguttatus en asociación a dos especies de primate en la Amazonía del sureste de Perú. Discutimos este comportamiento en el contexto de competencia y distribución de recursos y especulamos sobre la razón por la cual este escarabajo está asociado a ambas especies de primates. PALABRAS-CLAVE: Competencia, distribución de recursos, foresia, especialización de nichoABSTRACT -Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) compete intensively for dung resources, and most species forage in the understory. Here, we describe the unique behavior of one dung beetle species, Canthon aff. quadriguttatus (Olivier), associated with two species of monkeys from Peru. We observed this beetle species on the genital and anal regions of the brown titi monkey, Callicebus brunneus (Wagner), and subsequently falling with dung as the monkeys defecated. The same association was also observed with the bald-faced saki monkey, Pithecia irrorata irrorata (Gray).Using the "sit and wait" at the source behavior, C. quadriguttus may arrive fi rst at the dung resource, possibly out-competing other dung beetle species. This paper is the fi rst report of this behavior for C. aff. quadriguttatus on the brown titi monkey and bald-faced saki monkey from southeastern, Amazonian Peru. We discuss this behavior in the context of competition and resource partitioning, and also speculate as to why C. aff. quadriguttatus has been found on both monkey species.

The Dung- and Carrion-Feeding Scarabs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) of an Amazonian Blackwater Rainforest: Results of a Continuous, 56-Week, Baited-PitfallTrap Study

“…Additionally, Canthon proseni (Martínez) was reported on the American tapir, Tapirus terrestris (L.), in Bolivia, although there was no additional information on use of the dung (Pereira and Martínez 1956). Jacobs et al (2008) described the behavior of Canthon aff. quadriguttatus (Olivier), a canopy specialist customarily found on the genital and anal regions of the brown titi monkey, Callicebus brunneus (Wagner), and the bald-faced saki monkey, Pithecia irrorata Gray.…”

“…observed that while most species are generalist coprophages, some species evolved to feed on fruit, fungi, carrion, and plant detritus or specialized on omnivore or herbivore dung to enhance coexistence of potential competitors with the result of increased species richness. Others developed arboreal lifestyles that may have evolved as a response to competition with the ground fauna for a common resource that is transitory and limited (Ratcliffe 1980;Howden and Young 1981;Jacobs et al 2008). Peck and Forsyth (1982) and Feer and Pincebourde (2005) concluded that most species use a spectrum of dung types, and it is the fine partitioning of different activity periods, foraging behaviors, body sizes, dung removal methods, feeding behaviors, and microclimate that contribute to so many species co-existing in the same habitat.…”

Global dung webs: high trophic generalism of dung beetles along the latitudinal diversity gradient

“…These might be temporal patterns, such as variation in seasonal activity periods and day/night differentiation (Hanski & Cambefort ) or differences in dung discovery speed (Jacobs et al . ). Moreover, spatial partitioning into different (micro‐) habitats (Hanski & Cambefort ; Mehrabi et al .…”

Guia de identificação das espécies de Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) do município de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

“…Existem ainda, espécies que não se enquadram nestas guildas e apresentam comportamento compatível com o substrato utilizado na alimentação e nidificação (Pereira & Martínez 1956, Halffter & Matthews 1966, Matthews 1972, Halffter 1977, Cook 1998, Herrera et al 2002, Vaz-de-Mello 2007a, Jacobs et al 2008. Algumas espécies podem também se alimentar de outros recursos como, por exemplo, fungos (Halffter & Matthews 1966, Navarrete-Heredia & Galindo-Miranda 1997, Falqueto et al 2005) e ovos em decomposição (Louzada & Vaz-de-Mello 1997, Pfrommer & Krell 2004.…”