A comparison of dung beetle assemblage structure (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) between an Atlantic forest fragment and adjacent abandoned pasture in Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The study was conducted at the Mata dos Godoy State Park in Londrina, state of Paraná, Brazil. Baited pitfall traps were installed in the forest, in adjacent abandoned pasture land, and on the borders between these two environments. Every two weeks, from June 1999 to May 2000, the traps were placed for 24 hours and the material was collected every 12 hours. The 4687 specimens of Scarabaeinae collected belong to 13 genera and 27 species. The most frequent were different. Sulcophanaeus menelas, Canthidium aff. trinodosum, O. hirculus, and E. parallelus were the most abundant species, being predominantly diurnal; the first three species were more active on abandoned pasture. Most of the Dichothomius assifer (Eschscholtz, 1822) and D. mormon specimens were captured at night. The latter species was the most abundant in edges, whereas D. assifer, Scybalochantum aff. zischkai, and O. catharinensis can be considered bioindicators because they were either exclusively or highly predominant in the best preserved areas. A larger number of individuals was observed from December 1999 through March 2000, which is the time of the year when adults of Scarabaeinae normally emerge and fly, in the studied region. The highest diversity (88.89%) was observed in February.

Diversity and seasonality of Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in forest fragments in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

“…According to Halffter (1991), Scarabaeinae is represented by a few abundant species and many species with few individuals in Neotropical forests. This pattern has been often found in studies conducted in forest ecosystems (e.g., Louzada and Lopes 1997, Vazde-Mello 1999, Medri and Lopes 2001, Milhomem et al 2003, Endres et al 2007, Louzada et al 2007, Filgueiras et al 2009, Hernández and Vaz-de-Mello 2009, Audino et al 2011, Lopes et al 2011, Silva 2011, in areas of fi elds or pastures in Brazil (e.g., Koller et al 2007, Matavelli and Louzada 2008, Louzada and Silva 2009, Lopes et al 2011, Silva 2011, as well as other Neotropical countries such as Bolivia (Spector and Ayzama 2003), Colombia (Martínez et al 2009), Ecuador (Peck and Forsyth 1982), Mexico (Halffter et al 1992) and Uruguay (Morelli et al 2002).…”

What is the importance of open habitat in a predominantly closed forest area to the dung beetle (Coleoptera, Scarabaeinae) assemblage?

“…Canthon mutabilis occurs throughout most of South America, always associated with dry savanna and open moist areas (Solís & Kohlmann 2002;Silva 2011). In Brazil, C. chalybaeus is more abundant on the edge of forests and in pastures used for cattle grazing than within forests (Lopes et al 2011). Thus, the exposed conditions of open areas seem to benefit these species, which, in turn, constitute an indicator of this condition.…”

Escarabeíneos copro-necrófagos (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) de fragmentos de Mata Atlântica em Silveira Martins, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

“…Este padrão tem sido encontrado frequentemente em estudos realizados tanto em ecossistemas florestais (e.g. louzada & loPes, 1997;vaz-de-mello, 1999;medri & loPes, 2001;milhomem et al, 2003;eNdres et al, 2007;louzada et al, 2007;filGueiras et al, 2009;herNáNdez & vaz-de-mello, 2009;loPes et al, 2011loPes et al, ) quanto campestres (e.g. matavelli & louzada, 2008koller et al, 2007;louzada & silva, 2009;louzada et al, 2010;loPes et al, 2011) no Brasil e em vários outros países neotropicais (e.g.…”

“…louzada & loPes, 1997;vaz-de-mello, 1999;medri & loPes, 2001;milhomem et al, 2003;eNdres et al, 2007;louzada et al, 2007;filGueiras et al, 2009;herNáNdez & vaz-de-mello, 2009;loPes et al, 2011loPes et al, ) quanto campestres (e.g. matavelli & louzada, 2008koller et al, 2007;louzada & silva, 2009;louzada et al, 2010;loPes et al, 2011) no Brasil e em vários outros países neotropicais (e.g. halffter et al, 1992;morelli et al, 2002;sPector & ayzama, 2003;martíNez et al, 2009 1997;louzada et al, 2007;herNáNdez & vaz-de-mello, 2009;audiNo et al, 2011;loPes et al, 2011).…”