三室算盘子寄主上弯头细蛾的生物学特性及花气味成分分析

【目的】为了从生物学和化学生态学角度探讨弯头细蛾Epicephala ancylopa和寄主三室算盘子Glochidion sp.间专性传粉的互利共生关系稳定性。【方法】本研究在野外观察和室内实验的基础上,对专性传粉育幼互利共生体系中三室算盘子、弯头细蛾生物学特性进行详细研究,探究互利共生双方利益得失;用动态顶空吸附法分别收集三室算盘子雄花和雌花气味物质,运用气相色谱-质谱联用技术(GC-MS)分析并鉴定其有效成分,用峰面积归一化与内标法定性定量;最后通过主成分分析法比较雄花和雌花之间气味化学成分的差异性。【结果】弯头细蛾在云南省普洱太阳河国家森林公园每年有1个世代,成虫和幼虫的活动时间分别在3-4月和8-10月。三室算盘子结实率为44.20%,被蛀食率为69.94%,平均每头幼虫消耗2.55枚种子来满足自身生长发育,寄主植物留有83.06%完好的种子,以维持互利共生关系的稳定。三室算盘子雌雄花气味中共鉴定出24种挥发物,主要以单萜类和倍半萜类物质为主,其中(Z)-罗勒烯和β-榄香烯两种萜类物质含量最高(分别为47.11%和22.72%),推测其是吸引弯头细蛾传粉的主要气味成分;雄花和雌花之间气味化学成分存在明显的差异,具有两性异型性。【结论】弯头细蛾通过以卵越夏和以蛹越冬对策,实现成虫发生期与三室算盘子花期的精准匹配。弯头细蛾成虫白天静伏,傍晚开始活动,三室算盘子花的气味物质也只在晚上才明显释放,且雌雄花气味化学成分的两性异型性有利于弯头细蛾辨别雌雄花,以完成采集花粉与传粉行为。该研究结果为头细蛾属昆虫与算盘子属植物专性传粉互利共生关系稳定性的维持机制提供了新的依据,也为深入开展通过触角电生理检测和生物行为实验来筛选吸引传粉头细蛾的活性物质提供了理论依据。     

黑面神雌花气味传粉前后的变化及其生态意义

该文以与头细蛾传粉相关的叶下珠科植物黑面神为材料,采用动态顶空吸附法分别收集了该物种雌花传粉前后释放的挥发物,利用气相色谱-质谱联用技术分析了其化学成分,探索了三者间花气味的异同,并对其生态意义进行了讨论。结果表明:从该物种传粉前、传粉期和传粉后的雌花气味中共分离出22种挥发物(传粉前12种,传粉期15种和传粉后13种),以脂肪族衍生物和萜类物质为主。3-己烯醛、反-2-己烯醛、顺-3-己烯-1-醇、顺-乙酸-3-己烯酯、反-β-罗勒烯、β-石竹烯、β-蛇麻烯、反,反-α-金合欢烯和长叶烯是其主要挥发物。传粉前后雌花气味的化学种类及组成发生了显著分化,且这种变化主要是由于各时期主要挥发物发生改变而引起的。反-β-罗勒烯在传粉期含量最高,而在传粉后显著下降,3-己烯、反-2-己烯醛、顺-3-己烯-1-醇和顺-乙酸-3-己烯酯在传粉前含量均最高,β-石竹烯含量在传粉后显著升高,且长叶烯仅在传粉后出现。在传粉期和传粉后β-蛇麻烯和反,反-α-金合欢烯的含量均显著上升。同时,传粉期雌花的释放量明显高于传粉前和传粉后的。综上结果显示,黑面神雌花传粉前后花气味发生了质与量的改变。初步推测黑面神雌花传粉前后花气味的分化可能会有效阻止头细蛾对其进行再次访问,限制头细蛾在其雌花中过度产卵,进而来减少传粉头细蛾对宿主种子的取食,这无疑对维持叶下珠科植物-头细蛾专性传粉互利共生体系的稳定性具有重要的化学生态意义。     

叶下珠头细蛾与小果叶下珠互利共生的研究——生物学及系统稳定性

【目的】为了确定小果叶下珠Phyllanthus microcarpus与叶下珠头细蛾Epicephala sp.之间专性互利共生系统稳定性的增强是否主要通过彼此之间相互遏制对方对自身进行过度开采。【方法】通过对小果叶下珠上共生的叶下珠头细蛾形态及生物学的研究,记述了叶下珠头细蛾专性寄生寄主植物时的行为特性及共生双方利益得失。【结果】叶下珠头细蛾在广西一年两代,成虫的羽化数量与寄主植物雌雄花总数峰值变化同步;幼虫对小果叶下珠果实的寄生率为96%,单个果实内幼虫寄生数量1,但平均每个果实内被取食的种子为56.9%,叶下珠头细蛾低龄幼虫相对较高的死亡率限制了其对寄主种子的过度取食;果实内种子的适度保留和低龄幼虫的高死亡率是小果叶下珠-叶下珠头细蛾互利共生体系维持稳定的关键因素。【结论】小果叶下珠的表型性状出现了趋异性进化,叶下珠头细蛾与不同表型的小果叶下珠均有互利共生关系。因此,对叶下珠头细蛾形态及生物学进行详细研究有助于深入了解小果叶下珠与头细蛾共生体系物种组成多样性及进化生物学,并为探讨大戟科植物同头细蛾属昆虫协同互利共生多样性形成原因提供依据。     

叶下珠头细蛾与小果叶下珠互利共生的研究--生物学及系统稳定性

【目的】为了确定小果叶下珠 Phyllanthus microcarpus 与叶下珠头细蛾 Epicephala sp.之间专性互利共生系统稳定性的增强是否主要通过彼此之间相互遏制对方对自身进行过度开采。【方法】通过对小果叶下珠上共生的叶下珠头细蛾形态及生物学的研究,记述了叶下珠头细蛾专性寄生寄主植物时的行为特性及共生双方利益得失。【结果】叶下珠头细蛾在广西一年两代,成虫的羽化数量与寄主植物雌雄花总数峰值变化同步;幼虫对小果叶下珠果实的寄生率为96%,单个果实内幼虫寄生数量＞1,但平均每个果实内被取食的种子为56.9%,叶下珠头细蛾低龄幼虫相对较高的死亡率限制了其对寄主种子的过度取食;果实内种子的适度保留和低龄幼虫的高死亡率是小果叶下珠-叶下珠头细蛾互利共生体系维持稳定的关键因素。【结论】小果叶下珠的表型性状出现了趋异性进化,叶下珠头细蛾与不同表型的小果叶下珠均有互利共生关系。因此,对叶下珠头细蛾形态及生物学进行详细研究有助于深入了解小果叶下珠与头细蛾共生体系物种组成多样性及进化生物学,并为探讨大戟科植物同头细蛾属昆虫协同互利共生多样性形成原因提供依据。     

头细蛾专性授粉体系中区域性共生多样化研究

头细蛾属昆虫与叶下珠科植物互利共生体系中头细蛾复合体的区域性物种组成的具体情况是互利共生多样性研究模型选取的重要参考指标。本研究通过对全世界头细蛾属昆虫与叶下珠科植物协同进化体系中非一对一互利共生关系进行系统的整理,并对小果叶下珠Phyllanthus microcarpus、黑面神Breynia fruticosa、圆果算盘子Glochidion sphaerogynum、革叶算盘子Glochidion daltonii 4种植物相关的互利共生模式在不同分布区头细蛾物种成分以及种群动态进行研究。结果显示:在广西小果叶下珠居群上共生3种头细蛾,这3种头细蛾在同年的第一个世代只出现2种,在云南和海南小果叶下珠上全年只发现2种,而在广州目前饲养的头细蛾成虫更是仅有叔头细蛾1种;革叶算盘子在云南和四川有2种共生头细蛾,而在广西和海南均仅有1种;在海南和厦门黑面神与喙果黑面神共享2种头细蛾,而在广西和广东黑面神上仅发现1种头细蛾;圆果算盘子是目前发现共生头细蛾物种最复杂的寄主植物,在海南记载有4种头细蛾,但在云南圆果算盘子上仅发现优头细蛾1种。4种寄主植物相关的互利共生体系中头细蛾物种组成在不同的分布地均发生了不同程度的区域性共生多样化,甚至在同一地区的不同世代之间也存在着头细蛾物种数量的变化,这对于深入理解具有互利共生关系的物种间协同进化多样性形成机制具有重要的意义。     

Polyploidization and sexual dimorphism of floral traits in a subdioecious population of Dasiphora glabra

银露梅亚雌雄异株种群的多倍化和花特征性二态 性二态是性别分离植物的常见性状,对植物的雌性和雄性功能可能产生不同的影响。本文以青藏高原特有植物银露梅(Dasiphora glabra)为研究对象,利用银露梅同时存在两性、雌性和雄性植株的种群,探讨银露梅与传粉相关的花特征性二态现象及其对传粉者访问、花粉流和结实的影响。另外,本文还利用流式细胞仪检查了两性植株、雄性植株和雌性植株之间基因组大小的差异。研究结果表明：银露梅雌性植株和雄性植株数量约占种群中植株总数量的40%,表明银露梅两性植株数量多于雄性和雌性的植株数量。两性植株的花数量显著多于雄性和雌性植株的花数量。雄花的花大小显著大于雌花和两性花的花大小。雄花的花粉数量与两性花的花粉数量没有差异,但是雌花的胚珠数量显著高于两性花的胚珠数量。双翅目的蝇类是银露梅最主要的访花者,尽管访花者偏好访问更大的花,但是在花间连续访问对大花没有表现出偏好。模拟花粉流实验表明,两性植株和雄性植株的有效花粉转移都很低,从而导致较低的结实率。雌性植株和雄性植株的DNA含量约为两性植株的4倍,并且单性植株和两性植株之间相互授粉不能结实。以上结果表明,与两性花相比,雌花和雄花在与传粉相关的花特征二态性上分别在雌性和雄性功能上表现出优势,但这种优势在很大程度上被低效的花粉转移所掩盖。银露梅的雌性植株和雄性植株经历了多倍化事件,导致与两性植株之间存在繁殖隔离,从而维持了3种性别植株的共存。     

优头细蛾(鳞翅目:细蛾科)的生物学特性及生存对策研究

【目的】探探索优头细蛾Epicephala sp.适应圆果算盘子Glochidion sphaerogynum特点而采取的生存对策,对揭示圆果算盘子与优头细蛾协同进化关系有重要的意义。【方法】本文通过对圆果算盘子物候、优头细蛾生活史、成虫活动规律以及圆果算盘子种子被幼虫蛀食情况这几方面的研究对优头细蛾适应性生存对策进行了探讨。【结果】圆果算盘子在整个算盘子属中呈现了一些与众不同的特点,特别体现在物候和雌花形态这两方面。在海南鹦哥岭,圆果算盘子每年只有一个花期,优头细蛾每年相应只有一个世代。优头细蛾是圆果算盘子的专性寄生者,承担着为圆果算盘子传粉的任务。头细蛾幼虫出果率为56.33%,完整种子保存率为56.58%,每头幼虫平均消耗4.53粒种子。【结论】优头细蛾通过以卵越夏对策,能够实现成虫发生期与圆果算盘子花期精准匹配。成虫选择了在雌花顶端小孔插入产卵器的产卵方式,并形成了与之相应的雌花选择和先产卵后传粉的生存对策,这样的产卵对策是适应圆果算盘子雌花形态的表现,同时对提高传粉效率、限制种子过度开采等方面体现了积极作用。     

珍珠莲传粉系统的研究

珍珠莲为榕属攀援灌木,雌雄异株。雌花序中着生雌花,每个花序中平均有雌花310.4朵;雄花序中着生瘿花、雄花和两性花,每个花序平均有瘿花391.0朵、雄花104.8朵、两性花2.0朵。自然状态下雌、瘿花的结实率和成虫瘿率分别为95.88％、29.51％。雌、瘿花在生理上已完全分离。匍茎榕小蜂是唯一能进入花产卵或传粉的共生昆虫,二者构成的传粉系统依靠形态结构的高度互适,物候生活史的相互吻合,以及特化的生物学行为维系其专一性和稳固性。     

钝叶柃不同性别花的花部形态与传粉特征比较

据有关资料记载,柃属(Eurya Thunb.)植物属于雌雄异株植物,目前仅在柃木(Eurya japonica Thunb.)中有过两性花的报道。近年的调查发现,钝叶柃(Eurya obtusifolia H.T.Chang)也有性别变异,存在两性花。在对其性别特征及功能研究的基础上,进一步跟踪了钝叶柃的开花和传粉过程,对不同性别花的花部形态和传粉特征进行了比较分析。在重庆市北碚区选取了4个样地,测定了花部形态、花朵朝向、花粉活力、柱头可授性、花粉对水的耐受性、单花花粉量和单花泌蜜体积等形态和传粉相关指标,并对其开花动态、传粉昆虫种类和昆虫传粉行为进行了仔细观察,还进行了套袋试验。结果发现钝叶柃不同性别花的花部形态和传粉特征既有一些共同点,又存在着明显差异,性别变异株则呈现出雌雄植株间的过渡特征。钝叶柃是一种花期短,花小而多,开花同步性高的植物,雌花和雄花色味相同。该植物的主要传粉方式为虫媒,主要传粉者为两种蜜蜂科昆虫,但风媒也在其传粉中起着一定作用。该植物不同性别花的主要差异有:1)雄花呈灯笼状,花瓣不反卷,雌花辐射状,花瓣反卷;2)雄花较雌花大;3)雄花倾向于垂直朝下,雌花倾向于斜向下朝向枝条末端;4)雌花寿命较雄花长。钝叶柃在开花和传粉上的许多特征都在一定程度上体现了其对雌雄异株性系统的适应。相应地,传粉者在不同性别植株上的行为也存在一定差异。钝叶柃不同性别花在形态上的差异是其周围各种生物因素及非生物因素共同作用的结果,其中传粉昆虫和雨水的选择可能在这些差异的塑造中起着重要作用。     

革叶算盘子与两种头细蛾互惠共生体系的生物学研究

探索担头细蛾Epicephala duoplantaria和革叶头细蛾Epicephala daltonii共同为革叶算盘子Glochidion daltonii传粉的"一对二"协同进化模式。本文在野外观察和室内实验的基础上,对两种传粉头细蛾个体发育过程中生活习性和生活史进行详细研究并对比,记述共生双方利益得失;对比研究两种头细蛾幼虫形态特征的异同。结果表明,担头细蛾和革叶头细蛾在革叶算盘子上每年均为1个世代,幼虫和成虫的活动时间分别在2月-4月和4月-5月;革叶算盘子结实率为11.20%-27.02%,其中被蛀食率为26.47%-44.83%;果实中的种子败育率为26.03%-34.68%,种子被头细蛾蛀食率为9.29%-17.95%;平均每头幼虫消耗2.59-2.94粒种子来满足自身生长发育,每个植株留有49.53%-62.63%完好的种子,以维持互惠共生关系的稳定;产卵方式的差异导致担头细蛾的种群数量远高于革叶头细蛾;两种头细蛾的幼虫形态趋同进化但各自具有特性,这与革叶算盘子的形态特征及两种头细蛾习性有关。担头细蛾和革叶头细蛾共同为革叶算盘子传粉,形成了特殊的"一对二"协同进化互惠共生体系,推测担头细蛾是寄主转移来的传粉者,但该互惠共生体系并不稳定。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

A molecular phylogeny of Hebeloma species from Europe

In order to widen the scope of existing phylogenies of the ectomycorrhizal agaric genus Hebeloma a total of 53 new rDNA ITS sequences from that genus was generated, augmented by sequences retrieved from GenBank, and analysed using Bayesian, strict consensus and neighbour joining methods. The lignicolous Hebelomina neerlandica, Gymnopilus penetrans, and two species of Galerina served as outgroup taxa. Anamika indica, as well as representatives of the genera Hymenogaster and Naucoria, were included to test the monophyly of Hebeloma, which is confirmed by the results. Hebeloma, Naucoria, Hymenogaster and Anamika indica cluster in a strongly supported monophyletic hebelomatoid clade. All trees largely reflect the current infrageneric classification within Hebeloma, and divide the genus into mostly well-supported monophyletic groups surrounding H. crustuliniforme, H. velutipes, H. sacchariolens, H. sinapizans, and H. radicosum, with H. sarcophyllum being shown at an independent position; however this is not well supported. The section Indusiata divides with strong support into three groups, the position of the pleurocystidiate Hebeloma cistophilum suggests the possible existence of a third subsection within sect. Indusiata. Subsection Sacchariolentia is raised to the rank of section.     

Seven new calochroid and fulvoid species of Cortinarius

We describe seven new European species of Cortinarius. All species are based on analyses of morphological and DNA sequence data. They all belong to a well-supported clade comprising most species traditionally treated in Cortinarius subgenus Phlegmacium sections Fulvi and Calochroi (i.e. the/Calochroi clade). All taxa are either fulvoid (containing anthraquinoid pigments) or calochroid (without these pigments). Morphological and ecological data are presented for all species and compared with similar species. A dichotomous key is presented for C. calochrous and similar species, including all six newly described calochroid species. The calochroid species C. albertii, C. chailluzii, C. cisticola, C. sancti-felicis, C. selandicus and C. vesterholtii spp. nov., and the fulvoid species C. langeorum sp. nov. are described.     

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.