Experimental warming alters the relative survival and emigration of two dung beetle species from an Australian dung pat community

To preserve insect‐mediated ecosystem services under ongoing climate change, it is necessary to first understand the impact that warming will have on the insects that provide or mediate these services. Furthermore, because responses of a species may be modified by interactions with competitors, it is informative to examine warming effects on organisms and service provision under competition. Dung beetles provide numerous services to agriculture by burying the manure of other animals. To understand the potential impacts of climate warming on ecosystem service provision, we exposed two dung beetle species (Sisyphus rubrus and Euoniticellus fulvus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)), occurring together in the same experimental pats, to warming and measured reproduction (dung ball production and burial, brood production, and egg laying), pat departure behaviour and survival of both species. These two species are likely competitors in pastures in northern New South Wales. To simulate climate warming, we used custom‐built chambers to add offsets (+0, +2 or +4°C) to field recorded, diurnally fluctuating baseline temperatures. There was no direct effect of increased temperature on any measured trait in either species. We did find however that the relative survival of the two species depended on temperature; S. rubrus had a higher probability (resulting in greater odds) of surviving than E. fulvus in the +0 and +4°C offset chambers, but not in the +2°C offset chambers. Likewise, the relative likelihood of the different species leaving a dung pat was temperature dependent; in the +2°C offset chambers, E. fulvus were more likely to leave than S. rubrus, but not in the +0 and +4°C offsets chambers. Our results highlight that it may be important for future studies to consider warming effects on relative survival and emigration because such effects could potentially lead to changes in dung beetle species composition.     

Do pygidial secretions of dung beetles have the potential to repel urban pest ants?

Various organisms emit malodorous secretions against competitors, and the potential use of these secretions in pest management should be investigated. For example, some ant species feed on similar resources as dung beetles, which might have led to counter chemical defences in dung beetles. We tested whether pygidial secretions of the dung beetle Canthon smaragdulus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) alter the locomotor behaviour of the exotic urban pest ant Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), specifically whether these secretions repel those ants. We also tested whether the disturbance in the locomotor behaviour of T. melanocephalum increases with the amount of pygidial secretion. We found that individual T. melanocephalum displayed changes in their locomotor behaviour when exposed to pygidial secretions of coupled dung beetles, single males, and single females. Additionally, the pygidial secretions from male and female dung beetles could repel ants. The change in the locomotor behaviour of T. melanocephalum increased with the amount of pygidial secretion. Our results suggest that the pygidial secretions of dung beetles have potential as a biological repellent of T. melanocephalum. Hence, pygidial secretions from dung beetles may be used in the future for the development of urban pest management strategies.     

Seed protection through dispersal by African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana africana) in northern Tanzania.

We examined effectiveness of African savannah elephant dung as a protective barrier for seeds of three tree species, Acacia tortilis Hayne, Tamarindus indica L. and Ximenia aegyptiaca L. Seeds were collected from dung and underneath fruiting trees in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. Experimental treatments were established to test: (i) the efficacy of dung in protecting seeds of A. tortilis from bruchid beetle infestation and the role of animals larger than insects in removing seeds; (ii) the same tenets as in Experiment 1, using seeds of T. indica; and (iii) the effect of distance on survival of seeds of X. aegyptiaca. Sites were established during two field seasons underneath conspecific trees, where seed predation was likely highest. Repeated‐measures two‐way ANOVA indicated that there was no treatment effect for Experiment 1. For Experiments 2 and 3 in October 2013, seeds in dung experienced less beetle infestation than fresh seeds. Repeated‐measures two‐way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD indicated that treatment effect differed among all treatments. Passed seeds at distances ≥5 m experienced less beetle infestation than fresh seeds underneath conspecifics. African savannah elephants appear to be important seed dispersers of these three tree species.     

Aerobic heterotrophic bacteria and petroleum-utilizing bacteria from cow dung and poultry manure

In this study, enumeration and identification of total aerobic heterotrophic bacteria and petroleum-utilizing bacteria as well as the degradative potential of petroleum-utilizing bacterial isolates were carried out. The average counts of total aerobic heterotrophic bacteria in cow dung and poultry manure were 74.25 × 10⁵ c.f.u. g⁻¹ and 138.75 × 10⁵ c.f.u. g⁻¹ respectively. Acinetobacter sp, Bacillus sp, Pseudomonas sp, and Serratia spp. occurred as aerobic heterotrophs in both cow dung and poultry manure. However, Alcaligenes spp. occurred only in cow dung while, Flavobacterium sp, Klebsiella sp, Micrococcus sp, and Nocardia spp. occurred only in poultry manure as aerobic heterotrophs. The average counts of petroleum-utilizing bacteria in cow dung and poultry manure were 9.25 × 10⁵ c.f.u. g⁻¹ and 17.25 × 10⁵ c.f.u. g⁻¹ respectively. Pseudomonas spp. occurred as petroleum utilizer in both cow dung and poultry manure. However, Bacillus spp. occurred only in cow dung while Acinetobacter spp. and Micrococcus spp. occurred only in poultry manure as petroleum utilizers. Relative abundance of petroleum utilizers in total aerobic heterotrophs ranged from 6.38% to 20.00% for cow dung and from 9.38% to 17.29% for poultry manure. Introduction of pure cultures of petroleum-utilizing bacteria from cow dung and poultry manure into sterile oil-polluted soil revealed oil degradation in one week period.     

Paraorygmatobothrium?taylori n. sp. (Tetraphyllidea: Phyllobothriidae) from the Australian weasel shark Hemigaleus?australiensis White, Last & Compagno (Carcharhiniformes: Hemigaleidae)

Paraorygmatobothrium taylori n. sp. (Tetraphyllidea: Phyllobothriidae) is described from the Australian weasel shark Hemigaleus australiensis White, Last & Compagno in Moreton Bay, off Queensland, Australia. The new species differs from 10 of the 11 described species of Paraorygmatobothrium Ruhnke, 1994 by the possession of prominent, semicircular bothridial muscle bands. From P. barberi Ruhnke, 1994, with which it shares the bothridial muscle bands, it differs in the possession of a cephalic peduncle and vitelline follicles that extend almost to the mid-line of the proglottis and are reduced, rather than completely interrupted, at the level of the ovary. P. janineae Ruhnke, Healy & Shapero, 2006 is recorded from its type–host but in a new locality, Moreton Bay, off Queensland, Australia. P. taylori is the third species of the genus recorded from the Hemigaleidae in Australian waters. Three of the eight known hemigaleid species are now recorded to harbour this genus, and three different species are now known from the two hemigaleids found in Australian waters.     

DESCRIPTION OF TYRANNODINIUM GEN. NOV., A FRESHWATER DINOFLAGELLATE CLOSELY RELATED TO THE MARINE PFIESTERIA‐LIKE SPECIES1

On the basis of morphological (light and electron microscopy) as well molecular data, we show that the widely distributed freshwater dinoflagellate presently known as Peridiniopsis berolinensis is a member of the family Pfiesteriaceae, an otherwise marine and estuarine family of dinoflagellates. P. berolinensis is a close relative of the marine species, which it resembles in morphology, mode of swimming, food‐uptake mechanism, and partial LSU rRNA sequences. It differs from all known genera of the family in plate tabulation. P. berolinensis is only distantly related to the type species of Peridiniopsis, P. borgei, and is therefore transferred to the new genus Tyrannodinium as T. berolinense comb. nov. T. berolinense is a very common freshwater flagellate that feeds vigorously on other protists and is able to consume injured metazoans much larger than itself. Production of toxins has not been reported.     

Description of a New Freshwater Ciliate Epistylis wuhanensis n. sp. (Ciliophora,Peritrichia) from China,with a Focus on Phylogenetic Relationships within Family Epistylididae

Two populations of Epistylis wuhanensis n. sp., a new freshwater peritrich ciliate, were isolated from different freshwater ponds located in Hubei, China. Their morphological characteristics were investigated using live observation, protargol impregnation, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Specimens from the two populations showed identical arrangement of the infraciliature and identical small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene and ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 sequences. The zooids present bell‐shaped and 90–175 × 27–54 μm in vivo. Macronucleus is variable in shape and located in the middle of cell. Pellicle is usually smooth with 139–154 and 97–105 striations above and below the trochal band, respectively. SSU rRNA gene and ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 sequences of E. wuhanensis n. sp. did not match any available sequences in GenBank. Phylogenetically, E. wuhanensis n. sp. clusters with the other Epistylis within the family Epistylididae, but is distinct from the major clades of Epistylis. Above all, the morphological characteristics and molecular analyses support that the present Epistylis is a new species. Expanded phylogenetic analyses of sessilids based on both SSU rRNA gene sequences and ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 sequences reveal that the genus Epistylis consists of Epistylis morphospecies and taxonomic revision of the genus is needed.     

Seed dispersal potential of Asian elephants

Elephants, the largest terrestrial mega-herbivores, play an important ecological role in maintaining forest ecosystem diversity. While several plant species strongly rely on African elephants (Loxodonta africana; L. cyclotis) as seed dispersers, little is known about the dispersal potential of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). We examined the effects of elephant fruit consumption on potential seed dispersal using the example of a tree species with mega-faunal characteristics, Dillenia indica L., in Thailand. We conducted feeding trials with Asian elephants to quantify seed survival and gut passage times (GPT). In total, 1200 ingested and non-ingested control seeds were planted in soil and in elephant dung to quantify differences in germination rates in terms of GPT and dung treatment. We used survival analysis as a novel approach to account for the right-censored nature of the data obtained from germination experiments. The average seed survival rate was 79% and the mean GPT was 35 h. The minimum and maximum GPT were 20 h and 72 h, respectively. Ingested seeds were significantly more likely to germinate and to do so earlier than non-ingested control seeds (P = 0.0002). Seeds with the longest GPT displayed the highest germination success over time. Unexpectedly, seeds planted with dung had longer germination times than those planted without. We conclude that D. indica does not solely depend on but benefits from dispersal by elephants. The declining numbers of these mega-faunal seed dispersers might, therefore, have long-term negative consequences for the recruitment and dispersal dynamics of populations of certain tree species.     

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of “pirate spiders” (Araneae,Mimetidae) with the description of a new African genus and the first report of maternal care in the family

We investigate the phylogeny of “pirate spiders” (Mimetidae), a family of araneophagic spiders known for their use of aggressive mimicry as a foraging strategy, but poorly understood phylogenetically. Relationships are inferred by including molecular data from six loci for 92 mimetid terminals spanning four genera, and 119 outgroups representing 12 families. Phylogenetic analyses based on parsimony, maximum‐likelihood and Bayesian approaches, as well as static and dynamic homology, robustly support monophyly of Mimetidae and a sister‐group relationship to a clade comprising Tetragnathidae + Arkyidae. Relationships among the mimetid genera are largely congruent across methods, as follows: (Gelanor (Ero (Anansi n. gen. (Australomimetus, Mimetus)))). Diversification of Mimetidae is estimated to be around 114 Ma, in the Early Cretaceous. In light of the results of our phylogenetic analyses, we erect Anansi n. gen. to include a clade of mimetids from West Africa that contains at least four species, including the newly described A. luki n. sp . We present the first report of maternal care in Mimetidae based on novel field observations.     

A eucrustacean from the Cambrian ‘Orsten’ of Sweden with epipods and a maxillary excretory opening

The Cambrian species Paulinecaris siveterae n. gen. n. sp., known from two trunk fragments, represents the first record of epipods (serving as gills and osmoregulatory structures) in a crustacean from the Swedish ‘Orsten’. Moreover, it is the first report of the maxillary excretory opening of a crustacean based on Cambrian material of ‘Orsten’‐type preservation. One specimen comprises the maxillary segment with an appendage and several thoracic segments with parts of their limbs; a second specimen is a fragment possibly of a more posterior part of the trunk. As in other known small eucrustaceans, the tergites of the new species lack prominent tergopleurae, so that the limbs insert directly ventral to the tergal margins. Limb preservation includes the maxilla and several thoracopods, all possessing a prominent, fleshy basipod with six setose endites along their median rim distally to the proximal endite. The presence of long and prominent limbs of P. siveterae suggests that it had good swimming ability, while the slight C‐like curvature of their basal limb part, basipod, indicates involvement of the limbs also in so‐called ‘sucking chambers’ for suspension feeding coupled with locomotion. The estimated total length of P. siveterae, 2–3 mm, is comparable to that of extant cephalocarids, but its appendages are twice as long and wide. The limbs of P. siveterae also differ in size and armature from extant eucrustaceans as well as early representatives of this group known from the ‘Orsten’ assemblages. The general morphology of the limbs, for example in having a fleshy and C‐shaped basipod with several setae‐bearing endites medially, identifies P. siveterae as an entomostracan eucrustacean, but a lack of further details precludes its affinity with any of the in‐group taxa. Three epipods on the outer edge of the basipod, as in P. siveterae, are also known from the Cambrian eucrustacean Yicaris dianensis from China and early ontogenetic stages of extant fairy shrimps (Anostraca); their adult stages have two epipods. This hints at an original number of three epipods in the ground pattern of Entomostraca, but some uncertainty remains with regard to the eucrustacean ground pattern because Malacostraca possess a maximum number of two.     

Evolution of the Malagasy endemic genus Nanos Westwood, 1842 (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae, Epilissini)

The traditionally defined ‘Nanos group’, composed of the genera Nanos Westwood, 1842, Cambefortantus Paulian, 1986 and Apotolamprus Olsoufieff, 1947, represents the most recent Malagasy dung beetle radiation. Species in this group have been ecologically very successful with many being numerically dominant in local dung beetle communities in Madagascar. In this study the phylogenetic relationships of species in this group are inferred using molecular data from mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase I) and nuclear (rudimentary, topoisomerase I and 28S) genes.The monophyly of Apotolamprus is supported both by molecular and morphological characters, but that of Nanos, supported by only one morphological character, is questioned. Congruent species groups can be defined within Nanos on the base of morphology and molecular results. In addition to the phylogenetic study, the revision of the genus Nanos Westwood, 1842, s.l., is presented. Nanos antsihanakensis (Lebis, 1953) stat.n . is re‐established. Thirteen new species – Nanos pseudofusconitens sp.n ., Nanos magnus sp.n ., Nanos marojejyensis sp.n ., Nanos bemarahaensis sp.n ., Nanos andreiae sp.n ., Nanos mirjae sp.n ., Nanos pseudorubromaculatus sp.n ., Nanos pseudominutus sp.n ., Nanos mixtus sp.n ., Nanos ranomafanaensis sp.n ., Nanos manongorivoensis sp.n ., N. pseudoviettei sp.n . and N. constricticollis sp.n . – are described and compared with their most closely related taxa. Sphaerocanthon fallaciosus Lebis, 1953, is synonymised with Nanos fusconitens (Fairmaire, 1899) syn.n . and Nanos neoelectrinus Montreuil & Viljanen, 2007, with Nanos humeralis Paulian, 1975 syn.n . Lectotypes are designated for Epilissus fusconitens var. agaboides Boucomont, 1937, Epilissus punctatus Boucomont, 1937, Epilissus sinuatipes Boucomont, 1937, Epilissus semiscribrosus Fairmaire, 1898, Epilissus fusconitens Fairmaire, 1899, and Sphaerocanthon vadoni Lebis, 1953. Aedeagus and male pro‐ and metatibiae are illustrated for each species. This published work has been registered in Zoobank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C1F29A37‐E380‐4D87‐871F‐039227547156 .     

Morphology and Phylogenetic Position of Two New Gregarine Species (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinorida) Parasitizing the Lubber Grasshopper Taeniopoda centurio (Drury, 1770) (Insecta: Orthoptera: Romaleidae) in Mexico

Eugregarines are understudied apicomplexan parasites of invertebrates inhabiting marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments. Most currently known terrestrial eugregarines have been described parasitizing the gut from less than 1% of total insect diversity, with a high likelihood that the remaining insect species are infected. Eugregarine diversity in orthopterans (grasshoppers, locusts, katydids, and crickets) is still little known. We carried out a survey of the eugregarines parasitizing the Mexican lubber grasshopper, Taeniopoda centurio, an endemic species to the northwest of Mexico. We described two new eugregarine species from the gut of the host: Amoebogregarina taeniopoda n. sp. and Quadruspinospora mexicana n. sp. Both species are morphologically dissimilar in their life‐cycle stages. Our SSU rDNA phylogenetic analysis showed that both species are phylogenetically distant to each other, even though they parasitize the same host. Amoebogregarina taeniopoda n. sp. clustered within the clade Gregarinoidea, being closely related to Amoebogregarina nigra from the grasshopper Melanoplus differentialis. Quadruspinospora mexicana n. sp. clustered within the clade Actinocephaloidea and grouped with Prismatospora evansi, a parasite from dragonfly naiads. Amoebogregarina taeniopoda n. sp. and Q. mexicana n. sp. represent the first record of eugregarines found to infect a species of the family Romaleidae.     

Genomic organization of duplicated short wave-sensitive and long wave-sensitive opsin genes in the green swordtail, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xiphophorus helleri</Emphasis>

Background  

Long wave-sensitive (LWS) opsin genes have undergone multiple lineage-specific duplication events throughout the evolution of teleost fishes. LWS repertoire expansions in live-bearing fishes (family Poeciliidae) have equipped multiple species in this family with up to four LWS genes. Given that color vision, especially attraction to orange male coloration, is important to mate choice within poeciliids, LWS opsins have been proposed as candidate genes driving sexual selection in this family. To date the genomic organization of these genes has not been described in the family Poeciliidae, and little is known about the mechanisms regulating the expression of LWS opsins in any teleost.     

Unmasking Antarctic mollusc lineages: novel evidence from philinoid snails (Gastropoda: Cephalaspidea)

Since its introduction, the genus Philine has epitomized numerous mollusc snails with strong morphological convergence. Recently, a molecular analysis including a wide taxon sampling split this group into four non-sister families. Although they are especially diverse in cold and deep waters, no comprehensive studies are available for the Antarctic counterparts. Here, our morpho-anatomical and molecular data suggest major changes in the systematics of the group. From the eight known species, two are synonymized, Antarctophiline amoena with A. alata, and A. gouldi with A. gibba, and two are transferred to the genus Antarctophiline, namely A. apertissima comb.n. and A. falklandica comb.n. Two new species are described, A. easmithi sp.n. and A. amundseni sp.n. from different depths in the eastern Weddell Sea. The elusive P. antarctica from the Ross Sea was found in the Weddell Sea and Waegelea gen.n. is erected to place this species. Both phylogenetic and morphological data support the erection of Antarctophilinidae fam.n. to embrace most of the Philinoidea species described in the Southern Ocean. Only two species of Philinidae are found in Antarctic waters, Spiraphiline bathyalis gen. et sp.n. from bathyal depths in the Weddell Sea and S. kerguelensis comb.n. from the Kerguelen Islands. In light of the new data provided for all described species and the phylogenetic framework proposed herein, we briefly discuss the diversification and biogeographical patterns of Antarctic philinoid snails. Overall, antarctophilinid species seem to have restricted and grossly nonoverlapping distributions suggesting allopatric speciation connected possibly to geographical or bathymetric isolation.     

El Niño impacts on human-modified tropical forests: Consequences for dung beetle diversity and associated ecological processes

Our knowledge of how tropical forest biodiversity and functioning respond to anthropogenic and climate-associated stressors is limited. Research exploring El Niño impacts are scarce or based on single post-disturbance assessments, and few studies assess forests previously affected by anthropogenic disturbance. Focusing on dung beetles and associated ecological functions, we assessed (a) the ecological effects of a strong El Niño, (b) if post-El Niño beetle responses were influenced by previous forest disturbance, and (c) how these responses compare between forests impacted only by drought and those affected by both drought and fires. We sampled 30 Amazonian forest plots distributed across a gradient of human disturbance in 2010, 2016, and 2017—approximately 5 years before, and 3–6 and 15–18 months after the 2015–16 El Niño. We found 14,451 beetles from 98 species and quantified the beetle-mediated dispersal of >8,600 seed mimics and the removal of c. 30 kg of dung. All dung beetle responses (species richness, abundance, biomass, compositional similarity to pre-El Niño condition, and rates of dung removal and seed dispersal) declined after the 2015–16 El Niño, but the greatest immediate losses (i.e., in 2016) were observed within fire-affected forests. Previous forest disturbance also influenced post-El Niño dung beetle species richness, abundance, and species composition. We demonstrate that dung beetles and their ecological functions are negatively affected by climate-associated disturbances in human-modified Amazonian forests and suggest that the interaction between local anthropogenic and climate-related stressors merits further investigation.     

Frugivory and Seed Dispersal by Brown Lemurs in a Malagasy Tropical Dry Forest

In the Ankarafantsika tropical dry forest (northwestern Madagascar), the common brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus fulvus) is the largest frugivore and probably the sole disperser of large‐seeded plants (seed diameter > 10 mm). To investigate seed dispersal by this primate, I recorded the feeding activities of a troop; also conducted fecal analyses, germination trials on defecated seeds, and a vegetation survey over 1 yr (beginning Dec 2006). Brown lemurs mostly consumed fruit (68%). The fruit of Vitex beraviensis was the most exploited resource (21% of total feeding time). Among dung samples, 1126 contained intact seeds of 70 plant species, with a median of six seeds and two species per sample. These data indicate that the brown lemur population dispersed approximately 9854 seeds/km²/d. Although the number of annually defecated seeds was overwhelmingly the largest in Grewia triflora, many of the small seeds were often clumped in dung piles. In contrast, large seeds of V. beraviensis occurred in the largest number of dung samples. The rate and time of seed germination in V. beraviensis were improved by passage through brown lemur guts. Therefore, V. beraviensis may readily establish seedlings in sites of brown lemur fecal deposition. Vitex beraviensis and brown lemurs are probably involved in a strong mutualism. Twenty‐three large‐seeded plants were probably dependent on brown lemurs for seed dispersal and some of these species were common trees in the forest. Maintenance of these key plant–animal interactions will probably contribute to the conservation of species diversity and intact regeneration of the Ankarafantsika forest.     

The Pseudoplagioporinae,a new subfamily in the Opecoelidae Ozaki, 1925 (Trematoda) for a small clade parasitizing mainly lethrinid fishes,with three new species

The Pseudoplagioporinae n. subf. (Opecoelidae) is proposed for species of Pseudoplagioporus Yamaguti, 1938, Fairfaxia Cribb, 1989, and Shimazuia Cribb, 2005, a small group of relatively distinctive, Indo-West Pacific taxa reliably known almost entirely from emperor fishes (Perciformes: Lethrinidae). These taxa were previously recognized in the Plagioporinae Manter, 1947, but that subfamily has recently been restricted to a clade of Holarctic, freshwater taxa, whereas analyses of new genetic data find the pseudoplagioporines to form a distinct clade among a larger assemblage of marine taxa. New material was sourced from fishes collected mainly in Queensland waters, Australia, but with some specimens from off Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Japan. Orthodena tropica Durio & Manter, 1968 is transferred to Pseudoplagioporus as P. tropicus (Durio & Manter, 1968) n. comb., and Orthodena Durio & Manter, 1968 thus becomes a synonym of that genus. Three new species of Pseudoplagioporus are proposed. One, P. mediocris n. sp., like other species of Pseudoplagioporus, occurs in several species of Lethrinus. The other two new species, P. labiatus n. sp. and P. roseovulatus n. sp., apparently do not infect species of Lethrinus and were instead found only in the Bigeye emperor Monotaxis grandoculis (Forsskål) and the Redfin emperor M. heterodon (Bleeker), respectively. New host-locality combinations and the first genetic data, for the ribosomal ITS2 DNA region, and the 28S rRNA, 18S rRNA, and cox1 mtDNA genes, are reported for Pseudoplagioporus lethrini Yamaguti, 1938, P. interruptus Durio & Manter, 1968, P. tropicus, Fairfaxia lethrini Cribb, 1989, Fairfaxia cribbi Hassanine & Gibson, 2005, and Shimazuia lethrini (Yamaguti, 1938) Cribb, 2005.     

Potential of endozoochorous seed dispersal by sheep in calcareous grasslands: correlations with seed traits

Questions: What is the potential of sheep to serve as seed dispersers via ingestion and defecation in calcareous grasslands? Is the presence of viable seeds from dung correlated with specific seed traits? Location: Calcareous grasslands, South Limburg, the Netherlands/Belgium. Methods: Dung samples (n=24) from sheep were collected between September 2006 and November 2007 from five sites with Mesobromion plant communities, and communities of Nardo‐Galion saxatilis. Germinability and identity of seeds in the dung samples were ascertained from germination of seedlings under glasshouse conditions. Seed traits of species with viable seeds in dung were compared with those present in the local species pool. Results: Seventy‐two plant species from 23 plant families had viable seeds in sheep dung. The plant families encountered most frequently were Gramineae and Compositae. The most abundant and frequently recorded plant species in dung samples was Urtica dioica, accounting for >80% of the total number of seeds. Mean seed density in sheep dung was 0.8 seeds g^?1 dry matter. Seeds with low seed mass and a high seed longevity index were over‐represented in dung. Viable seeds >2.5 mg were infrequent in the dung samples. Conclusions: We conclude that sheep are potentially important dispersers of plant species in Dutch calcareous grasslands. Although smaller seeds were relatively abundant in sheep dung, it cannot be excluded that this was mainly caused by differences in seed abundance.