The conservation status and distribution of Mediterranean dung beetles

Abstract

The Mediterranean Red List assessment is a review of the regional conservation status of approximately 6,000 species (amphibians, mammals, reptiles, birds, fishes, butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, corals and plants) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. It identifies those species that are threatened with extinction at the regional level to guide appropriate conservation actions for improving their status. This report summarises the results for Mediterranean dung beetles. All the dung beetles that are endemic or nearly endemic to the Mediterranean region – 200 species – are included. The geographical scope is the Mediterranean region according to the Mediterranean Basin Biodiversity Hotspot (Mittermeier et al., 2004), with the exception of the Macaronesian islands, which have not been included in this study. Of the 644 species of dung beetles inhabiting the Mediterranean region, 200 (32%) have at least 75% of their distribution range within the borders of the region. The other 444 species, which occur over a wider area, were excluded from this assessment. Of the 200 species analysed, 150 are considered endemic as they cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Ancient human colonization explains dung beetle species richness in the Mediterranean and Macaronesian islands

“…The main conclusion of our study is that the most relevant factors grazing practices, as has been widely and recently recognized (Numa et al, 2020).…”

“…In total, we found 220 dung beetle species, 200 species in Mediterranean islands and 38 species in Macaronesian islands (18 species common to both bioregions). This figure represents almost one‐third of the 644 dung beetle species estimated to inhabit the whole Mediterranean region (Numa et al, 2020). All species occurring only on the Macaronesian islands are Aphodiidae, only three species of Scarabaeinae and no species of Geotrupinae have been reported from these islands.…”

“…The importance of anthropogenic factors in determining the species richness of dung beetles on Mediterranean and Macaronesian islands suggests that these same factors must be promoted if the biodiversity of this fauna and the ecosystem functions it performs are to be preserved. Conservation efforts should thus focus on favouring traditional human actions related to pastoralism and extensive grazing practices, as has been widely and recently recognized (Numa et al, 2020).…”

“…Pleistocene fossil evidence indicates that the dung beetle species present before the development of animal husbandry are the same as those found today (Coope, 2001, 2010; Sandom et al, 2014). Dung beetles have been and are a key taxon in Mediterranean grassland ecosystems (Numa et al, 2020), and their feeding and nesting activities are linked to the use of mammal dung (Halffter & Matthews, 1966). Although some species may have a degree of preference for specific types of dung (Giménez Gómez et al, 2023; Tonelli et al, 2021; Verdú & Galante, 2004), they have a highly generalist and opportunistic feeding behaviour, using both domestic and wild mammal excrements interchangeably (Frank et al, 2018; Martín‐Piera & Lobo, 1996).…”

Hotspots in Transition: Mediterranean Amphibian Diversity Under Different Climate Scenarios

“…This study combines ENMs for various amphibian species in the Mediterranean with a broader examination of the region's biodiversity to project and explore amphibian diversity patterns under past, present, and future climate scenarios. The Mediterranean Basin, widely recognized as a biodiversity hotspot, plays a critical role in harboring endemic and threatened species across various taxa (Maiorano et al, 2013;Numa et al, 2020). ENM, a method considered highly useful for interpreting species' ecological and historical biogeography (Perktaş et al, 2015a), was chosen for its potential to deliver meaningful, geographically explicit conservation outcomes for this region, which is under signi cant threat from climate change and human activities.…”