放牧对内蒙古典型草原粪金龟子群落的影响

为阐明放牧对粪金龟子群落的影响, 于2004年5-9月, 选择内蒙古典型草原不同放牧强度 (无放牧、 适度放牧和过度放牧) 草地为样地, 采用诱捕法采集粪金龟子标本, 分析了放牧对粪金龟子群落的影响。结果表明： 共捕获粪金龟子60 839头, 隶属于3科5属24种。放牧影响下, 粪金龟子群落个体数、 种数和生物量均发生显著变化, 不同粪金龟子对放牧的敏感性不同, 并具有明显的季节特征。Pearson相关分析表明, 春季粪金龟子群落个体数、 生物量、 种数以及符号蜉金龟Aphodius comma和马粪蜉金龟Aphodius subterraneus个体数与放牧强度提高之间存在显著负相关关系; 夏季粪金龟子群落种数和叉角粪金龟Ceratophyus polyceros个体数与放牧强度提高也呈显著负相关; 秋季粪金龟子群落生物量和种数以及费氏粪金龟Ceratophyus fischeri、 墨侧裸蜣螂Gymnopleurus mopsus和小驼嗡蜣螂Onthophagus gibbulus个体数与放牧强度提高之间存在显著正相关关系。依据体长、 体重和行为特征, 将粪金龟子划分为4个功能群, 放牧对体型较小的功能群Ⅲ和Ⅳ的影响较显著。指示值计算结果表明, 费氏粪金龟、 毛蜉金龟Aphodius scofa和马粪蜉金龟可以作为不同放牧强度草地的特征指示种。     

荒漠草原马粪中粪金龟子组成及分解作用

2007年4-10月,采用野外和室内实验相结合的方法,研究了荒漠草原马粪中的粪金龟子群落组成和对马粪分解的影响.共捕获粪金龟子13528头,隶属于3科4属26种,优势种为符号蜉金龟(Aphodius comma),占总捕获量的88.5%,不同季节粪金龟子群落组成明显不同;在鲜马粪中活动的粪金龟子以粪居型蜉金龟为主,在鲜马粪堆置3d时种数和个体数达到最高,6d后全部离开;马粪经过136 d分解,残留率为52.5%,残留粪样中氮和磷释放较慢,钾释放较快;结合室内分解实验的结果,认为粪金龟子主要通过在马粪中活动对其分解产生影响,并与风蚀作用成为荒漠草原马粪块破碎的重要动因,主要发生在春季和秋季.     

内蒙古武川县农田退耕还草对粪金龟子群落的影响

2006年5-9月,诱捕法采集粪金龟子,以农田为对照,选择内蒙古武川县不同农田退耕管理方式为研究样地,分析了农田退耕后采取不同管理方式对粪金龟子群落的影响,以为农田退耕还草管理措施生态效应的评价和完善提供依据.共捕获粪金龟子21671头,隶属于3科5属25种.优势种为直蜉金龟(Aphodius rectus)和蜉金龟属(Aphodius sp.7),占总捕获量的比例分别为59.34％和11.71％.几种退耕管理方式都导致粪金龟子群落物种丰富度、生物量和多度提高,且具有显著的季节特征.Pearson相关分析表明,粪金龟子群落的物种丰富度、生物量和种数以及不同功能群和主要种的个体数与退耕年限、平均草高和植物群落盖度的变化存在显著正相关关系(P＜0.01或P＜0.05).由于长期农业耕作以及缺少大型食草动物和较大面积放牧草地,研究地区的粪金龟子群落组成以功能群Ⅱ和Ⅲ为主,功能群Ⅰ的多度和物种丰度较低.可以认为,在研究地区以农田景观为主要基质的区域,采取多样化的农田退耕管理方式,提高了生境的空间异质性,在减少人为耕作活动对粪金龟子影响的基础上,对粪金龟子物种丰度和多度的维持起到了促进作用.农田退耕、保留适当面积放牧草地或适当数量大型放牧家畜将有利于功能群Ⅰ物种丰度和多度的提高,有益于粪金龟子群落物种多样性和整体生态功能的维持.     

内蒙古典型草原粪食性金龟的取食偏好和日活动节律特征

【目的】为研究内蒙古典型草原粪食性金龟对放牧牲畜粪的取食偏好和日活动节律特征。【方法】2010年6、8和10月,以3种放牧牲畜(牛、马和羊)鲜粪块为诱饵,采用诱捕法采集粪食性金龟。【结果】内蒙古典型草原粪食性金龟显示对3种放牧牲畜(牛、马和羊)粪块的多食性特征,但不同功能群或不同物种显示不同取食偏好以及不同的日活动节律特征。中型掘洞型粪食性金龟(如小驼嗡蜣螂Onthophagus gibbulus、黑缘嗡蜣螂O.marginalis nigrimargo和游荡蜉金龟Aphodius erraticus)显示对牛粪的取食偏好、以及昼行性行为特征;中型和小型粪居型粪食性金龟(如马粪蜉金龟A.subterraneus、泥蜉金龟A.sordescens和符号蜉金龟A.comma等)则偏好取食马粪,小型粪居型粪食性金龟(如符号蜉金龟)有全天活动的行为特征。【结论】在内蒙古典型草原粪食性金龟取食偏好和日活动节律的形成和进化中,体型和行为特征是主要内因,牲畜粪块的外形和理化性质、以及季节更替中的气温变化是重要外因。     

中国蜉金龟属—新种记述（鞘翅目：蜉金龟科）

报道采自新疆东昆化山蜉金龟属Aphodius Illiger1新种－卡尔洞蜉金龟Aphodius(Volinux)kardonensis,sp.nov.。模式标本保存在新疆大学生物质。     

北方草地牛粪中金龟子的多样性

2006年5—9月,在内蒙古鄂温克族自治旗(典型草原)、内蒙古科尔沁左翼后旗(沙地草原)和吉林省长岭县(草甸草原)3种放牧草地中,采用陷阱法和野外牛粪解剖手捡法采集牛粪中的金龟子,共采集金龟子75981头,分属9科43种。对其进行多样性分析,结果表明:长岭和鄂温克族自治旗牛粪生境中的优势种均是黄缘蜉金龟Aphodius sublimbatus(Motschulsky)(分别占各自生境捕获个体数的88.188%和93.547%),科尔沁左翼后旗的优势种为双顶嗡蜣螂Onthophagus bivertex Heyden(67.067%)、小蜉金龟Aphodius pusillus(Herbst)(14.524%)和独角凯蜣螂Caccobius unicornis(Fabricius)(10.264%)。科尔沁左翼后旗牛粪中金龟子的Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener指数和均匀度指数在3种草地中均最高,长岭次之,鄂温克族自治旗最低。3种草地牛粪中金龟子的物种数与其丰富度相一致:长岭>科尔沁左翼后旗>鄂温克族自治旗。Sorenson群落相似性系数在0.458—0.578之间。     

中国五种蜉金龟幼虫形态记述(鞘翅目,金龟科,蜉金龟亚科)

基于3龄幼虫首次描述了中国5种蜉金龟幼虫的形态特征,分别是:方胸蜉金龟 Aphodius quadratus Reiche、黄缘蜉金龟 A.sublimbatus Motschulsky、直蜉金龟 A.rectus Motschulsky、游荡蜉金龟 A.erraticus(Linnaeus)(补充描记).文中列出了中国蜉金龟幼虫的分种检索表.主要鉴别特征是:头部、内唇和臀节等.     

内蒙古皇甫川流域不同水土治理措施对粪金龟子群落的影响

2007年9月-2008年9月,采用诱捕法采集粪金龟子,以不同水土治理措施植被、耕作农田和天然草地为研究样地,分析了内蒙古皇甫川流域不同土地管理方式对粪金龟子群落的影响.共捕获粪金龟子6169头,隶属于2科5属15种,优势种为直蜉金龟和小驼嗡蜣螂,分别占总捕获量的66.54％和13.26％.缺少适宜林地环境生存的种类是研究地区粪金龟子群落的基本特征.与耕作农田和天然草地相比,几种水土治理措施均未导致粪金龟子群落多度、生物量和物种丰度显著提高.粪金龟子群落生物量和物种丰度以及功能群Ⅱ和Ⅲ的多度与树(草)高呈显著负相关.受长期农业耕作以及缺少大型食草动物的影响,皇甫川流域的粪金龟子群落组成以功能群Ⅱ和Ⅲ为主,功能群Ⅰ的多度和物种丰度较低.研究地区居民点的人畜粪便为粪金龟子提供了充足的食物,导致附近耕作农田中的粪金龟子群落具有较高的多度和丰度.天然草地是该流域粪金龟子群落的适宜生境.在区域尺度推广水土流失综合治理成功经验的同时,保护天然草地和饲养适当数量家畜(特别是大型食草牲畜)是维护粪金龟子群落多样性和生态系统功能的有效措施.     

内蒙古中部地区土壤金龟子群落特征

2003-2004年,采用土壤样方法和粪诱捕法调查了内蒙古中部地区7个不同生境中的土壤金龟子群落特征,并以群落系数、欧氏距离、百分率相似系数和因子分析等方法对不同土壤金龟子群落之间的相似性进行了分析.共计捕获土壤金龟子101 788头,分属于7科22属59种.其中,植食性种类3科12属18种,主要为鳃金龟科和丽金龟科的种类;粪食腐食性种类4科10属41种,主要为金龟科、蜉金龟科和粪金龟科的种类.对几种群落相似性聚类分析方法所得结果的对比表明,因子分析方法所得的结果是较为合理的,因子分析排序的结果将7个土壤金龟子群落分为2类:一类为典型草原、草甸草原、荒漠草原和沙地;另一类为农田、退耕地和人工林地.     

直蜉金龟三龄幼虫形态学研究

直蜉金龟Phaeaphodius rectus(Motschulsky)是一种常见的粪食性甲虫,广泛分布于亚洲东部地区,其幼虫粪食性,对降解牲畜粪便具有重要意义。本研究通过采集和人工饲养获得了直蜉金龟卵、幼虫和蛹,运用扫描电子显微技术,对直蜉金龟3龄幼虫进行了形态观察。直蜉金龟3龄幼虫具有一系列特殊的超微形态特征,包括:内唇前惊刺由三叉状、二叉状及独立不分叉的3种惊刺组成;端感区具有一对三瓣状感器;覆毛区钩状刚毛形态为片状。     

粪甲虫对绢蒿荒漠春秋两季牛粪分解的影响

为明确绢蒿荒漠草地牛粪的分解规律,分别在5月(春季)和9月(秋季)设置不同堆置时间点(0、7、29、48、58 h),明确粪便理化性质变化规律,同时设置不同开口的网笼(无网笼、上下开口、上开口、全封口),探讨各生态功能类群粪甲虫对粪便分解的影响。结果表明: 春季的粪甲虫种类数显著高于秋季,秋季的粪甲虫数量显著高于春季。春季粪便的水分、全碳、全氮、全磷下降主要集中在0～29 h,堆置29 h时粪便的水分、全碳、全氮、全磷分别降低39.4%、13.9%、32.1%、26.7%。堆置58 h时粪便的中性洗涤纤维和酸性洗涤纤维分别显著降低8.0%和16.0%。秋季粪便的水分、中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维在0～7 h内下降速度最快,堆置7 h时分别降低85.6%、10.2%和20.2%。7～58 h内中性洗涤纤维和酸性洗涤纤维上升,58 h时粪便的中性洗涤纤维和酸性洗涤纤维分别升高20.0%和13.7%。全碳、全氮和全磷的分解主要集中在0～29 h内,堆置29 h时分别降低17.5%、55.0%和64.8%。不同开口的网笼有效阻止了相应生态功能类群粪甲虫的进驻,随着粪甲虫生态功能类群的增加,粪便分解速度加快,无网笼状态下的粪便分解速度显著高于其它处理。粪甲虫种类、数量以及粪便堆置时间均显著影响牛粪的分解过程。     

Diversity and seasonal fluctuations in dung beetle (Coleoptera) community in Kurukshetra,India

Five pitfall traps baited with 150–200 g of fresh cattle dung were installed for 24 h at weekly intervals. A total of 991 dung beetles from 11 genera, 31 species and three subfamilies was obtained. The community was dominated by Oniticellus spinipes individuals by 32.3%. Ten species appeared only once during the collection period and species composition and dominance changed throughout the period. The overall pattern we detected in the organization of the dung beetle community is that the species richness, abundance and diversity rise in September and the 2^nd week of October. The dung beetle community was found to be affected by season.     

松嫩草地牛粪中大型节肢动物种类组成及种群动态变化

研究并分析了松嫩草地牛粪中大型节肢动物种类组成及动态变化.结果表明,在草地牛粪中共调查到大型节肢动物7目20科43种,以鞘翅目、膜翅目和双翅目为主.依其食性不同,分为粪食性型(8科19种)、腐食性型(4科4种)、植食性型(4科6种)、捕食性型(5科11种)、杂食性型(2科5种)、尸食性型(1科1种)和寄生性型(1科1种).根据鞘翅目金龟总科中营粪食性型生活的粪甲虫对牛粪利用方式的不同,分为外生粪甲虫(6种)、内生粪甲虫(5种)、远生粪甲虫(2种)和偷窃寄生粪甲虫(1种).除了双顶嗡蜣螂,牛粪中大型节肢动物数量与鲜牛粪重量具有显著正相关关系(p＜0.01).粪食性型种类数和个体数量随鲜牛粪堆置时间的延长而迅速减少,7d后消失,其个体总数量与鲜牛粪堆积时间呈显著的负相关关系(p＜0.01),而与牛粪含水量呈显著正相关关系(p＜0.01),各种大型节肢动物因其食性不同在鲜牛粪中占据不同的生态位.鲜牛粪中大型节肢动物以粪食性型占绝对优势,而干牛粪中则以捕食性型和杂食性型为主.牛粪中大型节肢动物种群季节动态变化受温度、降水量与牛粪含水量影响,鲜牛粪中大型节肢动物优势种为直蜉金龟(69.25%)和肖秋家蝇与东方角蝇幼虫(25.12%).4、5、6月份和9月份,优势种为直蜉金龟,7月和8月份,优势种为蝇幼虫.     

Dung beetle community composition affects dung turnover in subtropical US grasslands

1. An important service in many ecosystems is the turnover and degradation of dung deposited by cattle. Dung beetles are the primary group of insects responsible for dung turnover, and factors affecting their abundance and distribution thus impact dung degradation. Lands lost to grazing due to dung buildup and pasture contamination total millions of acres per year in US pastures.
2. We evaluated the structural differences in dung beetle assemblages in natural grasslands versus a managed agroecosystem in subtropical southeastern Florida (USA). We measured the direct effect of dung longevity when dung beetle fauna normally inhabiting dung pats were excluded.
3. Our results indicate dung beetle abundance, functional diversity, and species richness have a substantial impact on the rate of dung turnover in subtropical pastoral lands with ~70% of dung removed from the soil surface after three months. Functional diversity and evenness did not have a significant positive effect on dung removal in managed, versus natural grasslands demonstrating a strong relationship between dung beetle assemblage composition and delivery of a key ecological process, dung degradation.
4. We suggest the importance of trees, which provide a thermal refuge for beetles, should be dispersed within matrixes of open pasture areas and within proximity to adjacent closed‐canopy hammocks to facilitate the exchange of dung beetles between habitats and therefore maintain the provisioning of dung degradation services by dung beetle assemblages.

     

Herbivore dung as food for dung beetles: elementary coprology for entomologists

1. How do dung beetles and their larvae manage to subsist on herbivore dung consisting of plant remains that are at least partly indigestible, mixed with various metabolic waste products? To clarify what is known and not known about this basic aspect of dung beetle biology, the present review summarises information on dung composition and discusses the feeding of beetles (food: fresh dung) and larvae (food: older dung) in relation to this information. 2. There is 70–85% water in typical fresh dung, and undigested lignocellulose or ‘fibre’ constitutes about 70% of the organic matter which also contains 1.5–3% N. About 75% of this is ‘metabolic faecal nitrogen’, mostly associated with dead and alive microbial biomass. As all essential amino acids and cholesterol are probably present, additional synthesis by microbial symbionts may not be needed by the beetles. 3. Beetles minimise the intake of lignocellulose by filtering fibre particles out of their food which is probably microbial biomass/debris with much smaller particle size. Excess fluid may be squeezed out of this material by the mandibles before ingestion. 4. All larvae are bulk feeders and unable to filtrate, but little is known about the composition of their food, i.e. older dung in pats or underground brood masses. Larvae in dung pats may depend on easily digestible dung components, probably microbial biomass, whereas the nutritional ecology of larvae in brood masses is still not understood. Unravelling the composition of their food might answer some of the so far unanswered questions.     

Ivermectin residues in cattle dung impair insect-mediated dung removal but not organic matter decomposition

1. Veterinary parasiticide residues in livestock dung have been repeatedly shown to negatively affect the abundance and diversity of dung-associated insects. While these losses are concerning from a conservation perspective, they can also translate to impairment of ecosystem functions in agricultural landscapes (e.g. nutrient cycling, primary productivity and greenhouse gas mitigation). 2. Most research focusing on decomposition-related ecosystem functioning has focused on dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) while other insects, particularly flies, have received comparatively less attention. 3. Using mesocosms, this study manipulated the insect groups colonising cow dung (beetles only, flies only, beetles and flies together, and an insect-free control). Half of the insects were exposed to 1 mg kg⁻¹ ivermectin in dung, while the other half were exposed to ivermectin-free dung. Dung decomposition (mass of organic matter lost) and dung removal (change in the dry mass of the dung pat attributed to both dung decomposition and burial) were measured. 4. Comparison of beetles and flies in ivermectin-free dung showed that beetles removed nearly twice as much dung as did flies. Comparison of dung removal across all treatments showed that ivermectin residues significantly reduced dung removal provided by beetles by 47% and dung removal provided by beetles and flies together by 32%. 5. Organic matter decomposition was not significantly affected by insect colonists or by the presence of ivermectin, indicating that organic matter decomposition can occur independently of insect activity and chemical perturbations.     

Dung burial strategies in some South African coprine and onitine dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

ABSTRACT.

• 1 The dung colonization and dung burial behaviour of twelve crepuscular/nocturnal tunnelling (paracoprid) species of beetles were examined in order to identify mechanisms which might facilitate resource (dung) partitioning. The species were selected from a diverse assemblage of dung beetles, the members of which coexist in the sandy-soil regions of Natal, South Africa.
• 2 The pattern of dung colonization in relation to dung age was examined in the field using baited pitfall traps. Some species, e.g. Onitis deceptor Peringuey, Catharsius tricornutus De Geer and Copris elphenor Klug, showed a marked preference for fresh dung (1–2 days old) whereas other species, e.g. O. viridulus Boheman and Copris fallaciosus Gillet, preferred older dung (3–7 days old).
• 3 Two distinct patterns of dung burial were recognized. In the Coprini, dung burial was complete within 24–48h of pad colonization, and the level of dung burial was similar in the laboratory and in the field. In the Onitini, dung burial occurred progressively over a 12-day period, although the timing of initiation of dung burial varied between species: in O. deceptor nearly all individuals had begun burial within 2 days of pad colonization, whereas only 20% of O. viridulus had commenced dung burial by that time. However, nearly all O. viridulus had buried substantial quantities of dung by day 12.
• 4 The mass of dung buried per pair by the larger coprine beetles (100–300 g) and onitine beetles (400–1000 g) suggests that there is potential for inter- and intraspecific competition, even in pads colonized by relatively few beetles. The colonization and use of dung of different ages are discussed as means of resource partitioning in relation to the relative abilities of species to compete for dung.

     

Evidence that sex‐specific signals may support mate finding and limit aggregation in the dung beetle Aphodius fossor

1. In temperate climates, dung is often colonised by several species of endocoprid (dwelling) dung beetles which use pats for feeding, shelter, and reproduction. 2. Endocoprid beetles aggregate even when offered patches (dung pats) of consistent age, size, and origin, suggesting that beetles themselves might influence the attractiveness of patches to members of their own species. Both pheromones, and physical changes to the structure of dung pats caused by colonising beetles have been suggested as mechanisms facilitating intraspecific aggregation, but neither of these hypotheses have been empirically tested. 3. Using a common European dung beetle (Aphodius fossor L.), we conducted a simple choice experiment designed to test whether (i) earlier colonisation by conspecifics could alter dung attractiveness and (ii) whether attraction was influenced by sex‐specific signals. 4. We found that female beetles are repelled by dung colonised by conspecific females and are attracted to dung colonised by conspecific males. Male beetles show no evidence of attraction or repellence for dung colonised by either sex. Neither in females nor males was uncolonised dung found to be significantly more or less attractive than predicted by non‐preference. 5. Our results suggest that for A. fossor male‐produced signals may support mate finding in patchy environments, and that female‐produced signals may serve to discourage subsequent colonisation by additional females.     

The effects of rainforest canopy loss on arboreal dung beetles in Borneo: implications for the measurement of biodiversity in derived tropical ecosystems

We examine the effect of selective timber extraction, and corresponding forest canopy loss, on arboreal dung beetles in the tropical rainforests of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Changes in vertical distribution of beetles are measured through differences in the abundance of beetles in ground-based pitfall traps in primary, logged and plantation forest. Previous research has demonstrated that arboreal dung beetles are not generally collected in pitfall traps in primary forest, but are present in large numbers above the ground in canopy vegetation: the presence of arboreal beetles in pitfalls in areas of reduced or modified canopy cover may therefore reflect a response to the absence or modification of their usual habitat, and the proliferation of these beetles nearer to the ground. In this paper, statistically significant differences are found in the abundance of beetles in ground pitfall traps from logged forest compared to primary forest. Results show that virtually no arboreal dung beetles are recorded in primary forest traps, with an increased abundance of arboreal dung beetles in traps from logged and plantation forest, with 1.72% of the total number of arboreal beetles recorded from primary forest, 22.32% from logged forest, and 75.96% from plantation forest. The presence of arboreal dung beetles in plantations demonstrates that arboreal dung beetles can survive outside their normal habitat, and we relate these observations to adaptations to upper rainforest canopy conditions, and proliferation of these microclimatic conditions in man-made habitats. Results are also discussed in terms of their relevance to the measurement of species richness and diversity in logged and other derived ecosystems, where mixing of the ground-based and arboreal faunas occurs.