Additional Records of Adventive<i>Onthophagus</i>Latreille (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in North America

MacRae, Ted C.; Penn, S. R.

doi:10.1649/0010-065x(2001)055[0049:aroaol]2.0.co;2

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…However, within-range density differences did not covary with significant differences in threshold body sizes, suggesting that density variation on a local level is insufficient to drive threshold divergences. This may not be surprising as gene flow between sites within each range is likely to be considerable due to the generally high mobility and dispersal power of onthophagine beetles and the lack of efficient dispersal barriers (Barbero and LopezGuerrero, 1992;Hoebecke and Beucke, 1997;MacRae and Penn, 2001). At the same time, these results underscore the likely importance of geographic isolation as a crucial requirement in the initiation of allometric divergences.…”

Section: The Behavioral Ecology Of Horn Polyphenismsmentioning

confidence: 89%

The behavioral ecology of threshold evolution in a polyphenic beetle

Moczek¹

2003

Behavioral Ecology

102

121

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Facultative expression of alternative male morphologies is thought to allow individual males to select the phenotype with the highest fitness gain given their competitive status relative to other males with which they compete for females. Choice of, or switching between, morphs commonly relies on developmental threshold responses. Evolutionary changes in developmental threshold responses are thought to provide an important avenue for phenotypic diversification and the evolution of morphological and behavioral novelties. However, the extent to which alternative male phenotypes and their underlying threshold responses actually evolve in natural populations is unclear. Likewise, the ecological factors that shape the evolution of threshold responses in natural populations are unexplored for most organisms, as are the consequences of such modifications for patterns of morphological diversity. I examined the ecological basis of rapid threshold evolution in exotic populations of the horn-polyphenic dung beetle Onthophagus taurus. Male O. taurus vary continuously in body size as a function of larval feeding conditions. Only males that exceed a critical threshold body size develop a pair of long horns on their heads, whereas males below this threshold remain hornless. Populations in two exotic ranges of this species, the eastern United States and western Australia, have diverged in the mean threshold body size, which has resulted in the evolution of highly divergent and novel horn length-body size allometries in these populations. Populations in a third and previously unstudied exotic range of O. taurus in eastern Australia exhibit threshold body sizes roughly intermediate between the eastern U.S. and western Australian populations. I tested three hypothesis to explain how differences in ecological and demographic factors can drive allometric divergences between populations, using data derived from comparative, standardized sampling of a large number of populations in each exotic range. Results suggest that differences in the intensity of both intra-and interspecific competition have contributed to the evolution of divergent thresholds in these populations. My results do not support the hypothesis that shifts in threshold body sizes to larger body sizes are a consequence of increases in the mean body size of competing males. I discuss my results in the context of Onthophagus mating systems and the evolutionary implications of threshold evolution.

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Section: The Behavioral Ecology Of Horn Polyphenismsmentioning

confidence: 89%

The behavioral ecology of threshold evolution in a polyphenic beetle

Moczek¹

2003

Behavioral Ecology

102

121

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“…The establishment and spread of O. nuchicornis , O. taurus , and D. gazella in North America is reviewed by Hoebeke and Beucke (1997) and updated by MacRae and Penn (2001). Onthophagus nuchicornis became established in northeastern North America before the 1840s.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Degree-day models for development of the dung beetles Onthophagus nuchicornis, O. taurus, and Digitonthophagus gazella (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), and the likelihood of O. taurus establishment in southern Alberta, Canada

et al. 2014

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Three studies were performed to assess the likelihood of establishing the dung beetle Onthophagus taurus (Schreber) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in southern Alberta, Canada. This European species was first reported in Florida in the 1970s and now occurs as far north as Michigan, United States of America. Its ability to establish in Canada is unknown, but is desired to accelerate the degradation of cattle dung on pastures. The first study examined egg-to-adult development at temperatures of 10–32 °C (in increments of 2 °C) to develop degree-day models for O. taurus and for two other closely related species of dung beetles. Onthophagus nuchicornis (Linnaeus), used as a positive control, is a European species common across Canada. Digitonthophagus gazella (Fabricius), used as a negative control, is an Afro-Asian species whose distribution is restricted in North America to the southern United States of America. The second study examined the overwintering ability of O. taurus and D. gazella in outdoor field cages. The third study compared climate parameters between southern Alberta and the northernmost recorded distribution of O. taurus. Results combined across the three studies show that O. taurus can complete egg-to-adult development and overwinter in southern Alberta. However, high overwintering mortality is predicted to prevent establishment of O. taurus in the region.

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“…Onthophagus nuchicornis (Linnaeus), Onthophagus taurus (Schreber), and Digitonthophagus gazella (Fabricius) are exotic species of tunnellers whose distributions continue to expand in North America (Fig. 1) (Hoebeke and Beucke 1997; MacRae and Penn 2001). Onthophagus nuchicornis is a Eurasian species that became established in northeastern North America before the 1840s.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioclimatic analyses for the distributions ofOnthophagus nuchicornis,Onthophagus taurus, andDigitonthophagus gazella(Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in North America

et al. 2017

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Onthophagus nuchicornis(Linnaeus),Onthophagus taurus(Schreber), andDigitonthophagus gazella(Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Onthophagini) are species of dung beetles that have been used in relocation programmes to accelerate the degradation of cattle dung on pastures. Exotic in North America, all three species have expanded their distributions since their introduction onto the continent. Here we report development of CLIMEX®bioclimatic models using data collected before 2011 that predict the eventual North American distributions of these species. Data collected after 2010 is used to validate these models. Model outputs identify large regions of the central United States of America suitable for establishment ofO. nuchicornisandO. tauruswhere these species have not been reported. These results indicate that the latter two species may already be present in these regions and undetected, that they have yet to expand into these regions, and (or) that factors restricting migration or dispersal prevent these species from occupying these areas. Model outputs forD. gazellasuggest that the species has largely reached its predicted maximum distribution. These models can be used to aid the success of future relocation programmes elsewhere in the world and (or) to predict regions where these species are likely to spread without human intervention.

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Additional Records of AdventiveOnthophagusLatreille (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in North America

Cited by 11 publications

References 0 publications

The behavioral ecology of threshold evolution in a polyphenic beetle

The behavioral ecology of threshold evolution in a polyphenic beetle

Degree-day models for development of the dung beetles Onthophagus nuchicornis, O. taurus, and Digitonthophagus gazella (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), and the likelihood of O. taurus establishment in southern Alberta, Canada

Bioclimatic analyses for the distributions ofOnthophagus nuchicornis,Onthophagus taurus, andDigitonthophagus gazella(Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in North America

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