野葛根际固氮微生物群落分布特征及其影响因素

【目的】研究野葛根际固氮微生物群落的空间分布特征,同时结合地理气候因子、土壤理化性质探讨影响野葛根际固氮微生物群落的空间分布特征的主要因素。【方法】在野葛广泛分布的广西、江西和湖南采集17份野葛根际土壤,测定土壤常规理化性质,进行基于MiSeq测序平台的nifH基因高通量测序,采用多元统计分析方法探索固氮微生物群落结构与环境因子之间的关系。【结果】不同采样区域固氮微生物α多样性无显著差异;同一采样区内各样点的固氮微生物群落结构与组成较相似,而不同采样区之间固氮微生物群落结构与组成差异较大,这表明固氮微生物群落存在明显的区域性分布特征。野葛根际土壤中固氮微生物主要归属于变形菌门(Proteobacteria)(相对丰度>60%),在目水平上,已注释出的固氮微生物主要归属于根瘤菌目(Rhizobiales)和伯克氏菌目(Burkholderiales)。根瘤菌目相对丰度在江西采样区最高,伯克氏菌目相对丰度在湖南采样区最高。pH、交换性钙、全钾、海拔和年平均气温对土壤固氮微生物群落结构的影响较大。优势种群伯克氏菌目与pH、交换性钙和全钾正相关,与C/N负相关;优势种群根瘤菌目与pH、交...     

三峡库区水体中固氮微生物多样性及其影响因素

【目的】研究分析不同时空条件下三峡库区水体固氮微生物多样性,并探讨其与地球化学参数的相关性。【方法】采集三峡库区不同时间(三月份和六月份)和空间(干流与支流)的水体样品,对其进行地球化学参数分析,并通过构建克隆文库分析样品中固氮功能基因(nifH)的多样性进而探讨其与水体地化参数的相关关系。【结果】统计分析显示三峡库区水体固氮微生物α-多样性和群落组成具有时空差异。支流水体样品的固氮微生物α-多样性高于干流水体样品;六月水体样品的固氮微生物α-多样性高于三月水体样品。三峡库区三月水体样品中的固氮微生物群落以Proteobacteria (50.3%)和Firmicutes (40.0%)为主;六月水体样品的固氮微生物群落以Proteobacteria(48.4%)、Firmicutes(25.4%)和Cyanobacteria(19.0%)为主。Mantel检验结果显示:固氮微生物群落结构的差异与温度、pH和DIC等地球化学参数具有显著(P0.05)相关性,其中温度和pH的相关性系数最大。【结论】三峡库区固氮微生物的种群结构和多样性具有时空差异,影响三峡水库水体中固氮微生物群落结构与多样性的主要环境因素为温度和pH,同时浊度、DIC、氨氮也对库区水体固氮微生物群落结构和多样性有一定的影响。     

不同时期艾比湖湿地盐角草群落土壤固氮微生物的多样性分析

【目的】研究新疆艾比湖湿地不同季节盐角草根际和非根际土壤固氮微生物的多样性和丰富度与环境因子的相关性,以期探究在荒漠化和盐渍化不断严重的艾比湖湿地中随着季节变化的固氮微生物群落对恢复生态功能起到的潜在作用,为后续的湿地保护和退化恢复工作提供理论支持和数据基础。【方法】应用Illumina HiSeq PE250测序技术,分析6个土壤样本固氮微生物的多样性,结合相关的理化因子并利用RDA分析法探究土壤理化性质和固氮微生物菌落结构及丰富度的相关性。【结果】艾比湖湿地盐角草植物根际土壤的固氮微生物多样性高于非根际土壤,7月的土壤固氮微生物多样性高于10月和4月的土壤。土杆菌属(Geobacter)、假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)、固氮菌属(Azotobacter)和慢生根瘤菌属(Bradyrhizobium)等为盐角草根际和非根际土壤中的共同优势菌属。这些固氮微生物优势菌属隶属于变形菌门(Proteobacteria)和蓝藻门(Cyanobacteria),且相对丰富度占比为85%和10%,其余各菌门共占比较少,仅为5%。土壤中固氮微生物的优势菌群与碱解氮(AN)、全氮(TN)、速效钾(AK)和有效磷(TP)呈显著相关。【结论】随着时间的推移土壤样本中固氮微生物的多样性和群落结构也发了改变,同一时期植物根际与非根际土壤中固氮微生物的群落结构并不相同。土壤的环境因子与固氮细菌的群落结构和丰富度的相关性研究可以为艾比湖湿地的退化恢复提供数据基础和理论支持。     

不同母岩发育马尾松土壤固氮菌群落结构和丰度特征

生物固氮是马尾松林地土壤氮素的重要来源,固氮微生物群落组成和数量的变化对土壤氮素供应和地力维持起重要作用。采用池栽试验,应用荧光定量PCR（聚合酶链式反应,Polymerase Chain Reaction）技术,借助Illumina Miseq高通量测序平台,以nifH基因为标靶,研究四类母岩（变余砂岩、长石石英砂岩、石英砂岩和玄武岩）发育马尾松土壤固氮菌群落结构和丰度的差异及其与土壤化学性质之间的关系。结果表明：（1）玄武岩土壤的有机碳、全氮、碱解氮、微生物量氮、马尾松株高和地径均显著高于其他母岩（P < 0.05）。（2）四类母岩土壤nifH基因丰度差异显著,玄武岩土壤nifH基因丰度分别是变余砂岩、石英砂岩和长石石英砂岩的3.75倍、7.89倍和4.41倍。（3）四类母岩土壤固氮菌群落α多样性指数（丰富度和多样性）差异显著,且玄武岩显著高于其他母岩。四类母岩发育土壤共获得有效序列159231条,分属于6个门、14个纲、41个目、69个科和122个属。门水平上,变形菌门和蓝藻门为主要优势类群。属水平上,慢生根瘤菌属、眉藻属、根瘤菌属和固氮螺菌属为主要优势属。玄武岩土壤变形菌门、慢生根瘤菌属、根瘤菌属和固氮螺菌属相对丰度显著高于其他母岩。层次聚类和非度量多维尺度（NMDS）分析结果表明,石英砂岩和长石石英砂岩土壤固氮菌群落结构相似,玄武岩与其他母岩固氮菌群落结构差异较大。（4）土壤有机碳、全氮、碱解氮和微生物量氮是固氮菌丰度、α多样性及群落结构的主要影响因子。综上,玄武岩土壤肥力高,提高了土壤固氮菌数量和群落多样性,有利于马尾松生长。研究从微生物学角度为马尾松适地造林和氮素调控提供了科学依据。     

万峰湖浮游植物群落的时空分布

于2009年9月(夏季)和2010年1月(冬季)对万峰湖(水库)的浮游植物群落结构时空分布特征进行研究.在万峰湖共监测到浮游植物49种,其中夏季水库表层(0-10 m)浮游植物优势种为蓝藻门中的拟柱孢藻(Cylindrospermopsis rackiborskii),底层为硅藻门中肘状针杆藻(Synedra ulna)和梅尼小环藻(Cyclotella meneghiniana);在冬季以硅藻门中的小环藻(Cyclotella sp.)和梅尼小环藻为主.夏季,浮游植物表层丰度为13.0×104～54.6×104 cells·L-1,野鸭滩(S2)最高,而以坝艾(S4)浮游植物丰度最低;浮游植物主要集中在表层(0～10 m),以蓝藻组成为主,蓝藻丰度百分数在大坝(S1)最高,达到90.3%,香浓多样性指数夏季高于冬季,夏季表层均匀度指数最低.冬季,浮游植物丰度为17.43×104～25.28×104 cells·L-1,浮游植物主要集中在表层(0～10 m)和中层(10～50 m),水体的各层硅藻所占比例均在90%以上.从浮游植物群落结构和丰度看,万峰湖处于中营养状态,冬季水质好于夏季.夏冬两季浮游植物丰度与水体的温度及水深都表现出了较强的相关关系.     

艾比湖湿地盐节木土壤固氮微生物群落结构和丰度的环境异质性特点

【背景】新疆艾比湖湿地国家自然保护区作为国内最典型的温带干旱区湿地荒漠生态系统,对于富集生物多样性、平衡生态环境等方面存在着非凡的意义。目前关于艾比湖湿地根际与非根际土壤固氮微生物群落结构和丰度的相关研究还未见报道。【目的】通过分析新疆艾比湖湿地盐节木根际和非根际土壤固氮菌nifH基因的群落结构和丰度的环境异质性特点,及探讨微生物群落对国内极端干旱区脆弱敏感的艾比湖湿地生态系统循环过程中的作用,为改善荒漠化的艾比湖湿地环境提供理论依据。【方法】采用构建克隆文库和q-PCR的方法,并利用冗余分析法(Redundant analysis,RDA)探究土壤理化性质与固氮微生物群落结构及丰度的相关性。【结果】艾比湖湿地盐节木非根际土壤中nifH的多样性高于根际土壤,盐节木根际土壤的nifH序列优势种属主要为固氮根瘤菌属(Azorhizobium)和脱硫弧菌属(Desulfovibrio);非根际土壤的nifH序列优势种属主要是固氮弧菌属(Azoarcus)、太阳杆菌属(Heliobacteriummodesticaldum)和脱硫弧菌属(Desulfovibrio)。盐节木根际土壤nifH数量为4.08×104copies/g,盐节木非根际土壤中nifH的数量为5.52×103copies/g,根际土壤nifH的丰度高于非根际土壤。相关性分析显示,根际土壤的优势类群和丰度与硝态氮(NO3--N)、速效氮、总钾、含水量等因子显著相关,非根际土壤的优势类群和丰度与硝态氮(NO3--N)、速效氮、总磷、总钾、总氮呈显著相关。【结论】在盐节木根际土壤中nifH的丰度高于非根际土壤,而多样性则低于非根际土壤,而且硝态氮(NO3--N)、速效氮、总磷可能会影响固氮微生物的群落结构和丰度,这些特点为湖泊湿地的退化恢复提供理论和数据基础。     

呼伦贝尔沙地不同植被恢复模式对土壤固氮微生物多样性的影响

利用聚合酶链式反应-变性梯度凝胶电泳(PCR-DGGE)技术及扩增产物序列分析方法,研究了经过4年不同植被恢复模式下呼伦贝尔沙地土壤固氮微生物的nifH基因多样性和群落结构的变化.结果表明:不同植被恢复模式间土壤固氮微生物群落组成差异显著.混播柠条+羊柴+冰草+披碱草模式(ACHE)下的土壤固氮微生物nifH基因多样性指数最高,其次为混播柠条+冰草(AC)、单播柠条(UC)、单播冰草(UA)和单播羊柴(UH)模式,对照(裸地)最低.除单播羊柴(UH)模式与对照的多样性指数差异不显著外,其余4种植被恢复模式均显著高于对照.单一恢复模式(UA、UH、UC)下,绝大多数土壤固氮微生物属于蓝藻门,结构比较单一;而混播模式(AC和ACHE)下,土壤固氮微生物组成发生明显变化,以变形菌门为主,还包含蓝藻门,其种类增加,多样性提高.不同植被恢复模式的速效磷(AP)、全磷(TP)、全氮(TN)和硝态氮(N03-N)对固氮微生物区系的影响均达到显著水平,且AP、TP、TN和NO3--N之间均具有显著相关性.不同植被恢复模式下土壤固氮微生物区系组成的变化是不同理化因子之间相互关联、共同影响的结果.     

稻草还田对水稻土固氮基因(nifH)组成结构和多样性的影响

以中国科学院桃源农业生态试验站长期定位施肥试验为平台,选取稻草还田(C)、氮磷钾(NPK)、氮磷钾加稻草还田(NPK+C)和不施肥对照(CK)4个处理,在晚稻的分蘖期、孕穗期和成熟期分别采集土样,利用实时定量PCR (Q-PCR)和末端限制性片段多态性(TRFLP)等分子生物学方法研究长期稻草还田对水稻土含nifH基因固氮微生物群落丰度、组成和多样性的影响.结果表明:与对照相比,稻草还田和单施化肥处理均显著增加nifH基因的丰度(分蘖期除外),NPK+C处理中含nifH基因的微生物数量最高;nifH基因组成也受到长期施肥的影响,其中CK处理nifH基因组成与各施肥处理明显不同,C与NPK处理间nifH基因组成存在一定差异,而NPK与NPK+C处理间无显著差异.长期施肥不会引起含nifH基因微生物群落多样性的显著改变.可见,稻草还田不仅引起nifH基因群落的组成发生变化,而且导致其数量显著增加,因而可增加土壤的固氮能力.     

稻草还田对水稻土固氮基因(nifH)组成结构和多样性的影响

以中国科学院桃源农业生态试验站长期定位施肥试验为平台,选取稻草还田(C)、氮磷钾(NPK)、氮磷钾加稻草还田(NPK+C)和不施肥对照(CK)4个处理,在晚稻的分蘖期、孕穗期和成熟期分别采集土样,利用实时定量PCR(Q-PCR)和末端限制性片段多态性(T-RFLP)等分子生物学方法研究长期稻草还田对水稻土含nifH基因固氮微生物群落丰度、组成和多样性的影响.结果表明：与对照相比,稻草还田和单施化肥处理均显著增加nifH基因的丰度(分蘖期除外),NPK+C处理中含nifH基因的微生物数量最高;nifH基因组成也受到长期施肥的影响,其中CK处理nifH基因组成与各施肥处理明显不同,C与NPK处理间nifH基因组成存在一定差异,而NPK与NPK+C处理间无显著差异.长期施肥不会引起含nifH基因微生物群落多样性的显著改变.可见,稻草还田不仅引起nifH基因群落的组成发生变化,而且导致其数量显著增加,因而可增加土壤的固氮能力.     

浙江水源地水库浮游动物丰度和生物量与水质参数的通径分析

为探明浙江水源地水库浮游动物群落特征及与环境因子的关系, 达到用浮游动物群落参数监测水源地水库水质的目的。于2014年1月至2016年10月, 对10个饮用水源地水库(K1—K10)展开了水质参数、浮游动物丰度和生物量的季节调查。采用多元逐步回归与通径分析的方法, 研究了浙江水源地水库环境因子与浮游动物群落之间的相互关系和作用过程。结果表明, 2014—2016年水库浮游动物平均密度97.5 ind./L, 主要由桡足类无节幼体(占36.3%)、轮虫(28.4%)和剑水蚤(20.0%)组成。平均生物量289.3 μg/L, 主要由枝角类(占39.3%)、剑水蚤(29.0%)和哲水蚤(14.5%)组成。Chl. a含量是春、夏季水库浮游动物丰度的决策因子, TP含量是秋、冬季群落丰度波动的限制因子, 春季TN通过N﹕P比率影响群落丰度。DO含量是冬季和夏季水库浮游动物生物量发展的决策因子, 冬季DO通过降低N﹕P比促进群落生物量发展。水库浮游动物现存量受到了TP含量消长、N﹕P比率变化, 以及最终反映的水体Chl.a含量共同影响。     

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 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.     

New species and new combinations in Peruvian Orchidaceae

seventeen new species and combinations are proposed in the generaChondrorhyncha, Cischweinfia, Cochlioda, Eloyella, Encyclia, Kefersteinia, Koellensteinia, Macroclinium, Rodriguezia, Solenidiopsis, andStenia. All new species are illustrated. A key is provided for 2-flowered species ofMacroclinium, PeruvianSigmatostalix, and PeruvianStenia. Solenidium (Solenidiopsis) peruvianum Schltr. is lectotypified.     

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.     

Entwicklungsgeschichte und Ultrastruktur von Pollenkitt und Exine bei nahe verwandten entomophilen und anemophilen Angiospermensippen derAlismataceae,Liliaceae, Juncaceae,Cyperaceae, Poaceae undAraceae

Some closely related members of the monocotyledonous familiesAlismataceae, Liliaceae, Juncaceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae andAraceae with variable modes of pollination (insect- and wind-pollination) were studied in relation to the ultrastructure of pollenkitt and exine (amount, consistency and distribution of pollenkitt on the surface of pollen grains). The character syndromes of pollen cementing in entomophilous, anemophilous and intermediate (ambophilous or amphiphilous) monocotyledons are the same in principal as in dicotyledons. Comparing present with former results one can summarize: 1) The pollenkitt is always produced in the same manner by the anther tapetum in all angiosperm sub-classes. 2) The variable stickiness of entomophilous and anemophilous pollen always depends on the particular distribution and consistency of the pollenkitt, but not its amount on the pollen surface. 3) The mostly dry and powdery pollen of anemophilous plants always contains a variable amount of inactive pollenkitt in its exine cavities. 4) A step-by step change of the pollen cementing syndrome can be observed from entomophily towards anemophily. 5) From the omnipresence of pollenkitt in all wind-pollinated angiosperms studied one can conclude that the ancestors of anemophilous angiosperms probably have been zoophilous (i.e. entomophilous) throughout.

     

Biological control of three floating water weeds,<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eichhornia crassipes,Pistia stratiotes</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salviniamolesta</Emphasis> in the Republic of Congo

Since 1999, four specific weevils (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) were released in the Republic of Congo against three exotic floating water weeds: Neochetina eichhorniae Warner and N. bruchi Hustache against water hyacinth, Neohydronomus affinis Hustache against water lettuce, and Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder and Sands against water fern. Recoveries of exotic weevils were made from all 24 release sites except one, and all four species have established and spread (up to 800 km for water hyacinth weevils). Within a few years of releases, control of water fern and water lettuce was such that fishing and navigation could be resumed, while reductions of water hyacinth populations were only beginning.     

Taxonomic status of the species of the green algal genusNeochloris

Komárek has recently reviewed the various species assigned to the green algal genusNeochloris Starr (Chlorococcales, Chlorococcaceae) and removed those with uninucleate vegetative cells to a new genus,Ettlia. Watanabe & Floyd, unaware ofKomárek's work, also reviewed the species ofNeochloris and distributed them among three genera—Neochloris, Chlorococcopsis gen. nov., andParietochloris gen. nov.—on the basis of details of the covering of the zoospore and the arrangement of the basal bodies of the flagellar apparatus. This paper reconciles these two treatments and makes additional recommendations at the ranks of genus, family, order, and class.     

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.