The application of an ecosystem services framework to estimate the economic value of dung beetles to theU.K.cattle industry

Abstract

Abstract. 1. The DEFRA ecosystem services framework was implemented in an entomological context to provide preliminary estimates of the economic value of four key ecosystem service benefits delivered by dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Geotrupidae) to the U.K. cattle industry and individual cattle farmers. These benefits included (i) reduced pest flies; (ii) reduced gastrointestinal parasites; (iii) reduced pasture fouling and (iv) increased soil nutrients.2. A mesocosm experiment was carried out to quantify the impacts of anthelmintic treatment on dung removal by dung beetles when (i) cattle were excreting anthelmintics (which affect dung beetles) in a sufficient concentration to impact dung beetles and (ii) when cattle were not excreting dung containing anthelmintics (which affect dung beetles) in a sufficient concentration to impact dung beetles.3. Inferring from our mesocosm experiment and existing data, the value of the benefits of dung beetles under current farming practices (and current anthelmintic usage) was estimated. We estimated the potential economic benefits if dung beetles were protected (i) under all entry-level agri-environment schemes; (ii) under organic schemes; or (iii) if farmers stopped treating adult cattle with anthelmintics during the grazing season.4. While these estimates are preliminary, and should not be treated as definitive values, we suggest that dung beetles may be currently saving the U.K. cattle industry c. £367 million each year: c. £354 million in conventional systems and c. £13 million in organic systems. Annual benefits per cow are greater in organic systems (£43.47) compared with conventional systems (£37.42).5. Protecting dung beetles under agri-environment schemes could save the U.K. cattle industry an additional £40.2 million year −1 (£4.36 per cow), while protecting dung beetles under organic schemes could save £378 k year −1 (£1.26 per cow). The cessation of, largely unnecessary, treatment of adult cattle with anthelmintics could save the U.K. cattle industry an additional £6.2 million year −1 (£1.40 per cow) in addition to savings on the anthelmintics themselves.6. These estimates are based on a large number of underlying assumptions and, thus, may be overestimating or underestimating the economic value of ecosystem services delivered by dung beetles.7. The potential for using the DEFRA ecosystem services framework in an entomological context is highlighted. These estimates emphasise the contribution of dung beetles as key Ecosystem Service Providers (ESP's) within the U.K. cattle sector and, by extension, emphasise the importance of valuing supporting ecosystem services derived from invertebrates.

The importance of species identity and interactions for multifunctionality depends on how ecosystem functions are valued

“…The services provided by dung beetles were recently valued at £367 million annually in the UK alone (Beynon et al. ). However, dung beetles are also sensitive to anthropogenic environmental change, potentially placing these valuable ecosystem services at risk.…”

Newly released non‐native dung beetle species provide enhanced ecosystem services in New Zealand pastures

“…Although limited in factors such as scale/replication, time frame, geographic range and dung beetle species, our results add to the literature showing that there are important ecosystem service benefits from dung beetles (e.g. Slade et al ., ; Beynon et al ., ; Manning et al ., ; Manning et al ., ; Piccini et al ., ). These findings are relevant both to agricultural systems where native dung beetle faunas are at risk from intensification of agriculture (Hutton & Giller, ) or systems where there are naturally impoverished dung beetle faunas, with active release programmes aiming to increase species richness (Edwards, ; Forgie et al ., ).…”

Environmental consequences of deltamethrin residues in cattle feces in an African agricultural landscape

“…The combined effects on survival and reproduction are such that dung beetle populations are likely to decline if subjected to sustained and widespread pyrethroid use. A reduction in the ecosystem services provided by dung beetles, including dung decomposition, bioturbation, nutrient cycling, pasture fertility, and livestock parasite suppression (Bang et al., ; Barth, Heinze‐Mutz, Roncalli, Schlüter, & Gross, ; Nichols et al., ; Sands & Wall, ), could prevent ecosystem function in agricultural landscapes resulting in reduced productivity and economic loss for farmers (Beynon et al., ). In addition, there could be broader ecological impacts on the insect, mammal, bird, and reptile populations which rely on dung beetles as prey items (Young, ).…”