Deforestation and biodiversity: effects of bushland cultivation on dung beetles in semi-arid Tanzania |
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Authors: | Sofie Tind Nielsen |
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Institution: | 1.Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Institute of Biology,University of Copenhagen,Copenhagen,Denmark |
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Abstract: | Dung beetles provide important ecosystem services in the habitats where they occur. The activity of dung beetles enhances
soil nutrient cycling and increases the soil’s ability to absorb and hold water. Consequently, these beetles are particularly
important in semi-arid environments. This study analyses the importance of remaining wooded habitat patches (bushland) for
the survival of a diverse dung beetle fauna in an otherwise cultivated landscape in semi-arid Tanzania. Dung beetles were
sampled by pitfall trapping in maize fields and bushland habitats. In total, 6037 dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae),
representing 77 species from 25 genera, were collected. Many species, particularly amongst the ball-rollers, showed a clear
preference for wooded patches, species richness being significantly higher in the bushland patches than in the cultivated
sites. The number of trapped specimens in bushland was also considerably higher than that found in maize fields, although
the differences were not significant. In conclusion, bushland fragments appear to have an important conservation value as
to maintaining a high diversity and abundance of dung beetles, thereby enhancing the ecosystem services provided by these
beneficial insects. |
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Keywords: | Anthropogenic disturbance Biodiversity Dung beetles Habitat degradation Scarabaeidae Semi-arid Tanzania |
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