Landscape effects on taxonomic and functional diversity of dung beetle assemblages in a highly fragmented tropical forest

Rivera, Jose D.; Silva, Pedro Giovâni da; Favila, Mario E.

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119390

Cited by 16 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…Since tropical dung beetles are susceptible to anthropic landscape disturbances (Alvarado et al, 2018;Rivera et al, 2021), we expected that ecological functions would also be affected by forest cover loss or fragmentation, as reported in previous studies (Alvarado et al, 2019;G omez-Cifuentes et al, 2020). In the present study, these landscape variables did not explain dung burial, consistent with other studies on tropical dung beetles (Amézquita & Favila, 2010;Carvalho et al, 2021) that reported similar results.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Seven pitfall traps were baited with 50 g of pig dung, alternating them with seven traps baited with 50 g of rotten fish. The traps remained active in the field for 48 h. Rivera et al (2021) provide detailed information regarding dung beetle sampling and identification.…”

Section: Study Site and Dung Beetle Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This study aims to evaluate how the taxonomic, functional and PD of dung beetles are related to dung burial, soil excavation and fly control in Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve (hereafter, LTBR), a protected but highly fragmented human‐modified tropical landscape. Previous studies by Rivera et al (2021), Rivera et al (2022) have assessed the taxonomic, functional and PD of dung beetles and their assembly mechanisms in LTBR. However, how these diversity dimensions and landscape characteristics drive their ecological functions is unknown.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The ecological functions of dung beetles are shaped by multiple dimensions of diversity

Rivera,

de los Monteros,

Favila

2023

Insect Conserv Diversity

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A mechanistic understanding of the relationship between multiple dimensions of species diversity and ecosystem functioning is needed to safeguard ecological processes critical to human well‐being. We evaluated how taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversities, as well as the assembly mechanisms of dung beetle communities, percent forest cover and landscape fragmentation, affect dung burial, soil excavation efficiency and dung fly larvae abundance in Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, a complex tropical landscape. Dung beetle functions were measured in 15 landscapes representing a gradient of forest cover loss (0%–100%). Phylogenetically clustered assemblages of large tunneler dung beetles showed the highest dung burial efficiency across the landscape. Fly larvae abundance was negatively correlated with the taxonomic diversity and functional evenness of dung beetles. Forest cover and landscape fragmentation did not significantly affect dung burial effectiveness, suggesting a high degree of functional redundancy. Dung burial efficacy is mainly driven by selection mechanisms, in which a single or a few phylogenetically close species disproportionately affect a given function. Fly larvae abundance was controlled by a complementary functional effect where each dung beetle species additively affected fly larvae survival. Hence, multiple functions are maintained by contrasting mechanisms and different diversity dimensions. High dung beetle species richness may foster pest fly control in tropical landscapes such as Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve. Our findings highlight the need to assess multiple dimensions of diversity since each can operate concurrently and contrastingly on the different ecological functions of species assemblages.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Study Site and Dung Beetle Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The ecological functions of dung beetles are shaped by multiple dimensions of diversity

Rivera,

de los Monteros,

Favila

2023

Insect Conserv Diversity

Self Cite

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“…Our results show that richness in cattle pastures varied between zero and eight species, while Shannon diversity ( In the studied cattle pastures, small-sized species that have a high tolerance to habitat disturbance are favored, as observed in other tropical agricultural landscapes (Alvarado et al 2018;Rivera et al 2021). The complete replacement of neotropical forests with exotic grasses has impoverished dung beetle communities because some species, specially big-sized species, cannot cope with the drastic changes in temperature and humidity characteristic of grazed sites, probably due to physiological constraints (Verdú et al 2006).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

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

et al. 2023

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To achieve a balance between conservation and livestock production in the context of highly degraded tropical landscapes, we need a research approach that considers relationships among biodiversity, landscape structure, and farming practices. Given that dung beetles are sensitive to both landscape changes and local scale management practices, these insects are used as ecological indicators that provide information regarding the pasture's health. We assessed the response of dung beetle diversity to livestock management practices and landscape structure in 22 cattle pastures from a regional relictual landscape dominated by productive land uses. Livestock management practices were the best predictors for species richness, Shannon diversity, and number of individuals. Macrocyclic lactone use was negatively related to species richness and number of individuals; high cattle densities increased Shannon diversity in the studied ranches. Patches of old-secondary forest cover had a positive signi cant relationship with every response variable and was the best predictor for biomass, but also contributed to maintaining high species richness in cattle pastures, suggesting that secondary forests provide favorable microclimatic conditions for dung beetles in highly degraded landscapes. This study provides evidence that conservation of old-secondary forests in highly modi ed landscapes and the rational use of macrocyclic lactones can be useful management tools to favor dung beetle diversity and the ecosystem services they provide, thus ensuring pasture health.

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“…Thus, we expect that such landscape variables will be the most important drivers of beetle diversity in the urban landscapes of this study. Apparently, functional diversity presents a threshold regarding the land-use transformation scenario (Magioli et al 2015;Rivera et al 2021), in which the increase in the amount of native vegetation cover may not exhibit clear changes in functional diversity. We expect that response variables will be differently affected by urbanization process, with abundance and taxonomic diversity presenting more clear responses compared to functional diversity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From green to grey: unravelling the role of urbanization on diversity of dung beetles in Amazonian landscapes

Correa

Salomão

Alvarado

et al. 2022

Preprint

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The Brazilian Amazon has undergone an intense process of urbanization responsible for changes in the land use and land cover patterns in the last decades. Therefore, understanding the impacts resulting from the urbanization of Amazon become urgent, both to preserve biodiversity and associated ecosystem functions and services, since Amazon region comprise a key ecosystem regarding biodiversity and ecological dynamics. We studied, for the first time, the impact of urbanization on dung beetles, a recognized bioindicator group, in Amazonian landscapes. For this, we assessed the dung beetle taxonomic and functional responses along a preserved-rural-urban habitat gradient in an Amazonian city, and how landscape predictors affect dung beetle diversity. We found a consistent shift in species composition and reduction of both taxonomic and functional diversity from forest patches located outside the city towards those located in the city core. In addition, forest cover was the main driver of dung beetle responses at the landscape scale, where the increase of forest cover positively affected dung beetle diversity. Our results provide evidence that urbanization negatively impacts the dung beetle taxonomic and functional diversity in Amazonian cities, and reinforce the importance of maintaining forest cover to conserve dung beetles in tropical forests. Finally, the development of sustainable initiatives for the conservation of biodiversity in urban landscapes, such as public policies aimed at the maintenance of urban forest fragments, can help to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem processes within cities and to mitigate the urbanization impacts.

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Landscape effects on taxonomic and functional diversity of dung beetle assemblages in a highly fragmented tropical forest

Cited by 16 publications

References 63 publications

The ecological functions of dung beetles are shaped by multiple dimensions of diversity

The ecological functions of dung beetles are shaped by multiple dimensions of diversity

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

From green to grey: unravelling the role of urbanization on diversity of dung beetles in Amazonian landscapes

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