基于线粒体COI序列变异的高原鼢鼠种群遗传分化研究

基于线粒体COI基因序列对高原鼢鼠7个地理种群的遗传多样性、遗传分化和基因流进行分析,158条COI基因序列中发现了570个变异位点,界定了54个COI单倍型。总体单倍型多样性指数Hd为0.911,种群单倍型多样性在0.278—0.964之间,高原鼢鼠的种群遗传多样性较高。群体总的遗传分化系数Fst为0.611,群体间的基因流Nm在-0.020—3.700之间,部分地理种群之间的遗传分化程度高,基因流弱。AMOVA分子变异分析显示,高原鼢鼠的遗传变异主要来自种群之间(77.56%),种群内部的遗传变异较低(22.44%)。中性检验(P0.01)与错配分析显示高原鼢鼠种群经历了群体扩张事件。IBD未检测到地理距离与种群间遗传距离的显著性相关关系(R2=0.124,P=0.118)。综合分析认为,高原鼢鼠不同地理种群间遗传分化的原因除地理隔离外,还与迁移扩散方式、进化过程和其他环境因素有关。     

陕西省异色瓢虫种群遗传结构及其多样性

异色瓢虫是一种重要的天敌昆虫,广泛应用于农业生物防治中.本研究以线粒体COII基因作为分子标记,对陕西省分布的异色瓢虫不同地理种群的遗传结构及遗传多样性进行分析,并探讨不同种群间的遗传分化程度及基因交流水平.结果表明: 在21个种群529头异色瓢虫供试样本的COII序列中,共检测到15种单倍型(Hap1～Hap15),其中Hap1和Hap2所占比例最高,分别占总群体的34.4%和37.6%.总群体单倍型多样性指数为0.732,各种群内单倍型多样性范围在0.652～0.786.种群间总基因流为10.13,总群体遗传分化指数为0.024,说明种群间整体遗传分化程度较低.陕西异色瓢虫种群在进化上呈现中性模型,群体大小保持相对稳定,种群间的遗传分化主要来自种群内部.基于Nei遗传距离构建的种群系统发育树,陕南区域种群与陕北和关中区域种群分化明显.种群间遗传分化与地理距离之间存在一定的相关性,并且区域种群的遗传结构与遗传多样性也表现出一定的地理分布模式,推测秦岭的阻隔及南北气候的差异,使陕北、关中与陕南种群间的基因交流存在阻力,导致南北种群间遗传结构和遗传多样性存在差异.     

基于线粒体COⅡ基因的大豆蚜不同地理种群遗传分化研究

【目的】大豆蚜Aphis glycines逐渐成为栽培大豆上的世界性重要害虫,为明确大豆蚜不同地理种群的遗传分化及遗传多样性,本研究探讨其在中国的种群遗传变异。【方法】测定了采自7个省共14个地理种群339头大豆蚜的线粒体COⅡ基因的673 bp序列,利用Dna SP 5.0、Arlequin 3.5.1.2、Network4.6.1.3等软件对地理种群间的大豆蚜的遗传多样性、遗传分化程度及分子变异进行分析,并建立了单倍型网络图及单倍型系统进化树。【结果】在所分析的339个COⅡ序列中,共检测出7个单倍型,其中H1为各种群所共享。种群内遗传多样性较低(Hd=0.479±0.030,Pi=0.00166±0.00018),种群内遗传分化相对较大(Fst=0.1985),基因流水平较高(Nm=2.019)。中性检验结果不显著(Tajima’s D=﹣0.931,P>0.10,Fu’s Fs=0.220,P>0.10),说明中国地区大豆蚜在较近的历史时期内没有出现种群扩张现象。分子变异分析(AMOVA)结果表明,大豆蚜遗传变异主要来自种群内部(80.15%),而种群间未发生明显的遗传分化。根据各地理种群的单倍型建立的系统发育树、单倍型网络图表明,各单倍型散布在不同的地理种群中,无明显的地理分布格局。【结论】大豆蚜不同地理种群的遗传多样性不高,各种群的遗传距离与地理距离之间没有显著线性相关性,各种群间的基因交流并未受到地理距离的影响。     

基于mtDNA Cytb基因序列的我国北方地区甜菜夜蛾遗传多样性与种群历史分析

为了明确我国北方不同地理种群甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua遗传多样性与种群遗传结构,阐明该种害虫的种群历史动态,首次对采自我国北方8省17县(市)304头甜菜夜蛾样品进行mt DNA Cytb基因序列测定与分析,利用Dna SP 5.0和Arlequin 3.0软件分析种群遗传多样性、遗传结构、遗传分化与分子变异,基于MP、ML与贝叶斯法构建单倍型系统发育树,与此同时,基于Median-joining法对所有个体构建单倍型网络关系图。结果表明,在所分析的304个序列样本中,共检测出19个单倍型,其中,包括9个共享单倍型,单倍型Hap6为所有种群所共享。总群体具有较低的遗传多样性(Hd=0.422±0.035,π=0.00119±0.00011)与较小的遗传分化(F_(ST)=0.108,P0.001)。单倍型系统发育分析与网络关系图结果表明,虽然19个单倍型被分为2个分支,但各单倍型相互散布在不同种群中,未形成明显谱系地理格局。AMOVA分析表明,甜菜夜蛾遗传变异主要来自种群内(89.18%),种群间变异水平较低(10.82%)。中性检验(Tajima's D=-1.897,P0.05;Fu's FS=-4.424,P0.05)与错配分布分析表明,我国北方地区甜菜夜蛾种群曾经历过种群的近期扩张。     

基于线粒体控制区的序列变异分析青海东部甘肃鼢鼠遗传多样性

甘肃鼢鼠(Myospalax cansus)是一种终年营地下独居生活的小型掘土类动物。本文通过测定mt DNA的控制区部分序列(530 bp)变异,分析青海东部地区8个甘肃鼢鼠地理种群遗传多样性与遗传结构。158个样本共发现26个变异位点,定义了39种单倍型,整体的平均单倍型多样性高(h=0.953 2)、核苷酸多样性低(π=0.006 36)。歧点分布和中性检验均说明青海东部甘肃鼢鼠种群在历史上存在着快速扩张的事件。基于邻接法构建的网络关系图中,单倍型呈星状分布,没有按地理位置形成对应类群。基因流(Nm)数据显示多数地理种群间基因交流贫乏,AMOVA结果显示种群内与种群间遗传变异分别为48.82%和51.18%,遗传分化明显。IBD分析表明,甘肃鼢鼠的遗传分化与地理距离呈正相关,说明距离隔离对甘肃鼢鼠种群分化具有重要作用。甘肃鼢鼠的这种遗传多样性与种群遗传结构特点,可能是地下生活方式靠挖掘迁移带来的较小扩散能力的结果。     

迁飞性昆虫甜菜夜蛾遗传分化研究

【目的】甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua逐渐成为世界性重要害虫,为明确甜菜夜蛾不同地理种群的遗传分化及遗传多样性,本研究探讨其在中国的种群遗传变异。【方法】测定了采自15个地理种群154个甜菜夜蛾的线粒体COⅠ基因的547 bp序列,利用DnaSP 5.0、Arlequin 3.5.1.2等软件对甜菜夜蛾不同种群间的遗传多样性、遗传分化及分子变异进行分析,并建立单倍型系统进化树。【结果】在所分析的154个COⅠ序列中,共检测出5个单倍型,其中H1为各种群所共享种群内遗传多样性较低(Hd=0.172±0.041,Pi=0.00077±0.0002),种群内遗传分化相对较大(FST=0.3182),基因流水平较高(Nm=1.071)。中性检验结果不显著(Tajima’s D=-1.278,P0.10,Fu’s Fs=-1.660,P0.10),说明中国地区甜菜夜蛾在较近的历史时期内没有出现种群扩张现象。分子变异分析(AMOVA)结果表明,甜菜夜蛾遗传变异主要来自种群内部(68.18%),而种群间未发生明显的遗传分化。根据各地理种群的单倍型建立的系统发育树表明,各单倍型散布在不同的地理种群中,无明显的地理分布格局。【结论】甜菜夜蛾不同种群的遗传距离与地理距离间无显著线性相关性,不同种群间的基因交流不受地理距离的影响。这些数据表明,除了遗传因素之外,不同因素的组合,例如地理距离、环境条件和生理行为,可能在甜菜夜蛾种群内和之间形成变异中起重要作用。     

基于mtCOI基因序列的中国葱斑潜蝇不同地理种群遗传多样性分析

【目的】葱斑潜蝇Liriomyza chinensis是葱蒜类蔬菜上的重要经济害虫,在我国广泛分布。本研究旨在阐析中国葱斑潜蝇的地理种群遗传分化。【方法】以中国8省12个不同地理种群的253头葱斑潜蝇为样本,测定其mtCOI基因序列;依据获得的mtCOI基因序列,利用MEGA7.0, DnaSP 6.1和Arlequin 3.5等软件对葱斑潜蝇地理种群的遗传多样性、基因流水平和遗传变异等进行分析。【结果】在253头个体的759 bp mtCOI基因片段中,获得13个单倍型,各单倍型间K2P遗传距离均小于0.02;其中单倍型Hap1为12个地理种群所共享,总发生频率高达81.82%。总群体单倍型多样性较低(H_d=0.327),核苷酸多样性(Pi)为0.00159,核苷酸平均差异数(K)为1.21011;葱斑潜蝇总群体遗传分化程度中等(F_ST=0.06971),基因交流较充分(Nm=3.33629)。分子方差分析(AMOVA)结果表明,遗传变异来源为群体内;总群体Tajima’s D检验值为显著负值;Mantel检测结果说明种群间的遗传距离与地理距离没有相关性。【结论】中国葱斑潜蝇地理种群的遗传多样性较低,基因交流较充分,遗传分化程度中等,且地理距离并不影响其遗传分化程度;葱斑潜蝇总群体在较近的历史时期未经历明显的种群扩张和种群增长。     

中国南方双斑长跗萤叶甲地理种群遗传 结构及Wolbachia感染

【目的】双斑长跗萤叶甲Monolepta hieroglyphica为多食性害虫,可取食为害多种农作物。本研究旨在探究中国南方地区分布的双斑长跗萤叶甲地理种群的遗传多样性、遗传结构及种群间的遗传分化程度与基因流水平,探究共生菌Wolbachia在中国南方双斑长跗萤叶甲地理种群中的多样性和感染情况。【方法】以线粒体COII基因作为分子标记,对中国南方双斑长跗萤叶甲14个地理种群403头个体的COII基因片段进行PCR扩增及测序,分析单倍型多样性(Hd)、种群间遗传分化指数(F_st)和基因流(Nm),并进行分子方差分析 (AMOVA)以及Tajima’s D和Fu’s Fs中性检验,构建单倍型中介网络关系图及系统发育树。PCR扩增Wolbachia的wsp基因,对供试种群进行Wolbachia感染率检测,并利用获得的wsp基因序列进行Wolbachia株系区分和系统发育分析。【结果】在供试的双斑长跗萤叶甲403头个体中共检测到23种COII基因单倍型,在系统进化上分成两大分支。总种群Hd为0.748,各种群的Hd在0.394~0.782间。中性检验结果表明种群在进化上遵循中性模型,在较近的历史时期内没有经历明显的群体扩张事件。总种群的F_st为0.2481,Nm为0.76,AMOVA结果表明种群间的遗传分化主要来自种群内部,占方差比率的73.75%。种群间的遗传距离与地理距离间无显著相关性(R=0.2898,P=0.0640)。14个地理种群的Wolbachia感染率在92.59%~100%之间,平均感染率为97.60%;基于wsp基因序列,在检测的感染个体中共发现6种Wolbachia株系(wMhie1~ wMhie6),均属于A大组,这6种株系与已知的代表性株系区别明显而在系统发生树中单独聚为一个分支。【结论】中国南方双斑长跗萤叶甲种群遗传多样性较高,多数种群间存在明显的遗传分化,种群间基因交流较低,遗传分化与地理隔离之间无显著相关性。Wolbachia在中国南方双斑长跗萤叶甲种群中具有很高的感染率及丰富的感染类群。     

云南4个地区高山姬鼠线粒体细胞色素b遗传分化的研究

基于云南昆明、中甸、丽江和剑川4个种群(n=43)的线粒体细胞色素b(Cyt b)基因全序列的遗传变异分析,探讨了该地区高山姬鼠种群的遗传分化。在1 140 bp Cyt b基因序列中,有50个变异位点(占全变异的4.38%),定义了22个单倍型。在4个种群中,昆明种群单倍型多样性和核苷酸多样性最高。分子变异分析表明,种群间的遗传变异占30.2%,种群内的遗传变异占69.8%。FST分析表明,除中甸种群和丽江种群之间差异不显著(P>0.05),其它种群间的差异均极显著(P<0.01)。22个单倍型在系统发生树中明显聚为两支(A和B),进化网络关系显示昆明种群处于进化分支最末端,推测种群进化方向可能从横断山地区到昆明地区,支持了姬鼠属从北向南扩散的理论。     

基于mtDNA COI基因的甘肃截形叶螨不同地理种群遗传分化分析

【目的】探讨甘肃截形叶螨Tetranychus truncatus种群遗传多样性、遗传分化及种群系统发育关系。【方法】本研究以2016年6-9月采自甘肃省8个不同生境的34个截形叶螨种群的518头螨样品进行mt DNA COI基因PCR扩增、测序,并利用MEGA7.0和Dna SP5.0等软件分析截形叶螨不同种群的mt DNA COI基因序列变异和遗传分化情况。【结果】在34个截形叶螨地理种群中共获得518条mt DNA COI基因片段,测定片段长度为402 bp,T,C,A和G碱基平均含量分别为43.2%,10.5%,32.2%和14.0%,A+T含量(75.4%)明显高于C+G含量(24.6%),有明显的A/T偏倚性;核酸多样性性指数为0.0328。共检出12个单倍型,单倍型指数为0.8004,其中,H2出现了14次,分布于5个生态区域,为主体单倍型,占个体样本的41%。单倍型网络中介图表明各单倍型明显聚为5个聚类簇;12个单倍型的NJ系统发育树明显地分为4支,该结果与单倍型中介网络图的结果基本一致。各种群间的遗传距离在0.001~0.08955之间。UPGMA聚类图结果表明JQ(酒泉)种群和HS(合水)种群与其他种群相比分化明显。Mantel检测结果表明,种群间的遗传距离与地理距离无显著的相关性(r=0.043,P0.05)。34个种群间的遗传分化指数Fst为0.11995,种群间变异比例为1.20%。【结论】甘肃省8个生态区的34个截形叶螨种群间的遗传距离与地理距离无显著相关性;截形叶螨的遗传变异主要来自于种群内部,种群间还未发生明显的遗传分化现象。     

Foreign exploration for Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and associated natural enemies on avocado (Persea americana Miller)

Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara was discovered attacking avocados in California, USA, in 1996. Host plant surveys in California indicated that S. perseae has a highly restricted host range with larvae being found only on avocados, while adults were collected from 11 different plant species. As part of a management program for this pest, a “classical” biological control program was initiated and foreign exploration was conducted to delineate the home range of S. perseae, to survey for associated natural enemies and inventory other species of phytophagous thrips on avocados grown in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, and Brazil. Foreign exploration efforts indicate that S. perseae occurs on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1500 m) from Uruapan in Mexico south to areas around Guatemala City in Guatemala. In Costa Rica, S. perseae is replaced by an undescribed congener as the dominant phytophagous thrips on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1300 m). No species of Scirtothrips were found on avocados in the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, or Brazil. In total, 2136 phytophagous thrips were collected and identified, representing over 47 identified species from at least 19 genera. The significance of these species records is discussed. Of collected material 4% were potential thrips biological control agents. Natural enemies were dominated by six genera of predatory thrips (Aeolothrips, Aleurodothrips, Franklinothrips, Leptothrips, Scolothrips, and Karnyothrips). One genus each of parasitoid (Ceranisus) and predatory mite (Balaustium) were found. Based on the results of our sampling techniques, prospects for the importation of thrips natural enemies for use in a “classical” biological control program in California against S. perseae are not promising.     

Phylogeny of cardinalfishes (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Apogonidae) and the evolution of visceral bioluminescence

The cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) are a diverse clade of small, mostly reef-dwelling fishes, for which a variety of morphological data have not yielded a consistent phylogeny. We use DNA sequence to hypothesize phylogenetic relationships within Apogonidae and among apogonids and other acanthomorph families, to examine patterns of evolution including the distribution of a visceral bioluminescence system. In conformance with previous studies, Apogonidae is placed in a clade with Pempheridae, Kurtidae, Leiognathidae, and Gobioidei. The apogonid genus Pseudamia is recovered outside the remainder of the family, not as sister to the superficially similar genus Gymnapogon. Species sampled from the Caribbean and Western Atlantic (Phaeoptyx, Astrapogon, and some Apogon species) form a clade, as do the larger-bodied Glossamia and Cheilodipterus. Incidence of visceral bioluminescence is found scattered throughout the phylogeny, independently for each group in which it is present. Examination of the fine structure of the visceral bioluminescence system through histology shows that light organs exhibit a range of morphologies, with some composed of complex masses of tubules (Siphamia, Pempheris, Parapriacanthus) and others lacking tubules but containing chambers formed by folds of the visceral epithelium (Acropoma, Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia). Light organs in Siphamia, Acropoma, Pempheris and Parapriacanthus are distinct from but connected to the gut; those in Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia are simply portions of the intestinal tract, and are little differentiated from the surrounding tissues. The presence or absence of symbiotic luminescent bacteria does not correlate with light organ structure; the tubular light organs of Siphamia and chambered tubes of Acropoma house bacteria, those in Pempheridae and the other Apogonidae do not.     

Molecular phylogeny of Phebalium (Rutaceae: Boronieae) and related genera based on the nrDNA regions ITS 1+2

Parsimony analyses of the internal transcribed spacer regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS 1 & ITS 2) for 38 taxa sampled from the Phebalium group (Rutaceae: Boronieae) and two outgroups confirm that, with the exception of Phebalium sensu stricto and Rhadinothamnus, six of the currently recognised genera within the group are monophyletic. The data indicate that Phebaliums. str. is paraphyletic with respect to Microcybe, and Rhadinothamnus is paraphyletic with respect to Chorilaena. Rhadinothamnus and Chorilaena together are the sister group to Nematolepis. Drummondita, included as an outgroup taxon, clustered within the ingroup as sister to Muiriantha and related to Asterolasia.The phylogeny suggests that the evolution of major clades within a number of these genera (e.g. Phebalium) relates to vicariance events between eastern and south-western Australia. Leionema is an eastern genus, with the most basal taxon being the morphologically distinct Leionema ellipticum from northern Queensland. Leionema also includes one species from New Zealand, but this species (as with some others) proved difficult to sequence and its phylogenetic position remains unknown. Taxonomic changes at the generic level are recommended.The authors wish to thank Paul G.Wilson, PERTH, for advice and discussion, and Paul Forster, BRI, for collecting and providing material of Leionema ellipticum. The project was supported by a Melbourne University Postgraduate Award (to BM), the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS), Australian Systematic Botany Society and Wolf Den (Australia) Investments.     

Tracking down the "head blob": comparative analysis of wingless expression in the developing insect procephalon reveals progressive reduction of embryonic visual system patterning in higher insects

The evolution of larval head morphology in holometabolous insects is characterized by reduction of antennal appendages and the visual system components. Little insight has been gained into molecular developmental changes underlying this morphological diversification. Here we compare the expression of the segment polarity gene wingless (wg) in the pregnathal head of fruit fly, flour beetle and grasshopper embryos. We provide evidence that wg activity contributes to segment border formation, and, subsequently, the separation of the visual system and protocerebrum anlagen in the anterior procephalon. In directly developing insects like grasshopper, seven expression domains are formed during this process. The activation of four of these, which correspond to polar expression pairs in the optic lobe anlagen and the protocerebral ectoderm, has shifted to postembryonic stages in flour beetle and Drosophila. The remaining three domains map to the protocerebral neuroectoderm, and form by disintegration of a large precursor domain in flour beetle and grasshopper. In Drosophila, the precursor domain remains intact, constituting the previously described “head blob”. These data document major changes in the expression of an early patterning gene correlated with the dramatic evolution of embryonic visual system development in the Holometabola.     

Molecular identification of Taenia spp. in wolves (Canis lupus), brown bears (Ursus arctos) and cervids from North Europe and Alaska

Taenia tapeworms of Finnish and Swedish wolves (Canis lupus) and Finnish brown bears (Ursus arctos), and muscle cysticerci of Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus), Alaskan Grant's caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) and Alaskan moose (Alces americanus) were identified on the basis of the nucleotide sequence of a 396 bp region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene. Two species were found from wolves: Taenia hydatigena and Taenia krabbei. The cysticerci of reindeer, caribou and one moose also represented T. krabbei. Most of the cysticercal specimens from Alaskan moose, however, belonged to an unknown T. krabbei-like species, which had been reported previously from Eurasian elks (Alces alces) from Finland. Strobilate stages from two bears belonged to this species as well. The present results suggest that this novel Taenia sp. has a Holarctic distribution and uses Alces spp. as intermediate and ursids as final hosts.     

中国石蕊科地衣研究之四石蕊属地衣新种及中国新记录

摘要:本文报道了中国横断山地区石蕊属地衣12种,其中新种1个:贡嘎石蕊(Cladonia ngganensis S.Y. Guo & Wei),中国新记录11种:类黄粉石蕊(Cl. bacilliformis),比蒙氏石(Cl. beaumontii),小棍棒石蕊(Cl. clavulifera),圆筒石蕊(Cl. cylindrica),具粉石蕊(Cl. farinacea),北海道石蕊(Cl. hokkaidensis),厚叶石蕊(Cl. incrassata),大叶石蕊(Cl. macrophylla),丛杯石蕊( Cl. mateocyatha),多孔石蕊(Cl. multiformis)和亚石蕊(Cl. subrangiformis)。对于每一种的化学成分及地理分布进行了测定和分析。     

Fungal Thyroiditis: An Overview

The authors review the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of fungal thyroiditis cases previously reported in the medical literature. Aspergillus was by far the most common cause of fungal thyroiditis. Immunocompromised patients, such as those with leukemia, lymphoma, autoimmune diseases, and organ-transplant patients on pharmacological immunosuppression were particularly at risk. Fungal thyroiditis was diagnosed at autopsy as part of disseminated infection in a substantial number of patients without clinical manifestations and laboratory evidence of thyroid dysfunction. Local signs and symptoms of infection were indistinguishable from other infectious thyroiditis and included fever, anterior cervical pain, thyroid enlargement sometimes associated with dysphagia and dysphonia, and clinical and laboratory features of transient hyperthyroidism due to the release of thyroid hormone from follicular cell damage, followed by residual hypothyroidism. Antemortem diagnosis of fungal thyroiditis was made by direct microscopy and culture of a fine-needle aspirate, or/and biopsy in most cases. Since most patients with fungal thyroiditis had disseminated fungal infection with delay in diagnosis and treatment, the overall mortality was high.     

安徽牯牛降的丝孢菌Ⅰ

本文报导作者采自安徽枯牛降自然保护区的18种丝孢菌,分属于5个属,其中有3个新种:牛皮冻生尾孢(Cercospora paederiicola),山鸡椒假尾饱(Pseudocercospora litseae-cubebae),鸡血藤生假尾孢(P. millettiicola)和2个中国新纪录。文中对新种进行了描述及绘图,新记录种作了简要说明。研究的标本保存在中国科学院微生物研究所真菌标本室(HMAS)。     

Changes of dung beetle communities from rainforests towards agroforestry systems and annual cultures in Sulawesi (Indonesia)

Little is known about how tropical land-use systems contribute to the conservation of functionally important insect groups, including dung beetles. In a study at the margin of Lore Lindu National Park (a biodiversity hotspot in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia) dung-beetle communities were sampled in natural forest, young secondary forest, agroforestry systems (cacao plantations with shade trees) and annual cultures (maize fields), each with four replicates (n = 16 sites). At each site we used 10 pitfall traps, baited with cattle dung, along a 100 m transect for six 3-day periods. The number of trapped specimens and species richness at the natural forest sites was higher than in all land-use systems, which did not significantly differ. Each land-use system contained, on average, 75% of the species richness of the natural forest, thereby indicating their importance for conservation. However, a two-dimensional scaling plot based on NESS indices (m = 6) indicated distinct dung beetle communities for both forest types, while agroforestry systems and annual cultures exhibited a pronounced overlap. Mean body size of dung beetles was not significantly influenced by land-use intensity. Five of the six most abundant dung beetle species were recorded in all habitats, whereas the abundance of five other species was significantly related to habitat type. Mean local abundance and number of occupied sites were closely correlated, further indicating little habitat specialisation. The low dung beetle diversity (total of 18 recorded species) may be due to the absence of larger mammals in Sulawesi during historical times, even though Sulawesi is the largest island of Wallacea. In conclusion, the dung beetle fauna of the lower montane forest zone in Central Sulawesi appears to be relatively robust to man-made habitat changes and the majority of species did not exhibit strong habitat preferences.