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。     

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.     

内蒙古典型草原家畜粪中的粪金龟子群落特征

2008年6月-2009年9月,在内蒙古典型草原放牧区,分析了马、牛和羊鲜粪中粪金龟子的物种多样性、群落结构、功能群和取食偏好.共捕获粪金龟子7805头,隶属于3科4属32种,优势种为符号蜉金龟(Aphodius comma)、游荡蜉金龟(Aphodius erraticus)和泥蜉金龟(aphodius sordec...     

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。     

放牧强度对短花针茅荒漠草原甲虫群落分布格局的影响

放牧对脆弱的荒漠草原生态系统有着重要影响,且随放牧强度及持续时间不同而变化。鞘翅目昆虫是环境监测与生物多样性变化的指示生物。利用巴氏罐诱法对短花针茅荒漠草原不同放牧强度草地的甲虫群落组成和多样性进行调查,探究放牧对荒漠草原甲虫群落的影响。结果表明:(1)步甲科、金龟科为短花针茅荒漠草原甲虫群落优势类群,埋葬甲科、芫菁科、拟步甲科和花金龟科为常见类群。(2)放牧强度增加不利于维持更多的捕食性甲虫;对照和轻度放牧样地可维持更多的腐食性甲虫。(3)甲虫数量随放牧强度增加而递减;群落多样性以重度放牧草地最大,轻度放牧草地最小;群落优势度为对照、中度、重度显著高于轻度放牧草地。各甲虫类群在不同放牧强度草地出现时间、高峰期均不同。(4)对照、轻度、重度放牧样地的甲虫优势类群群落结构不同于其他生境,但均与中度放牧样地存在相似性。轻度、中度、重度放牧样地的甲虫稀有类群群落结构不同于其他生境,但均与对照样地存在相似性。(5)甲虫群落个体数与植物群落物种丰富度、盖度、植物平均高度、生物量呈显著正相关。Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Margalef丰富度指数均与植物群落物种丰富度、生物量显著负相关。研究结果为荒漠草原甲虫多样性保护提供参考依据。     

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.     

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.     

高寒小嵩草草甸牦牛优化放牧强度的研究

高寒小嵩草草甸牦牛放牧强度试验表明:(1)不同放牧强度下各植物类群的地上生物量和总的地上生物量之间差异极显著,莎草科植物地上生物量的百分比组成之间差异极显著,禾本科和杂类草地上生物量的百分比组成之间差异显著,而且禾本科和莎草科(除对照外)植物的地上生物量及其百分比组成随放牧强度的增加而减小,杂类草的变化与之相反;(2)优良牧草比例和草地质量指数与放牧强度之间均呈负相关,而优良牧草比例的年度变化和牦牛个体增重的年度变化之间呈正相关;(3)群落的相似性系数随放牧强度的增加而减小.通过建立植被变化度量指标,认为优良牧草比例的年度变化是评价高寒小嵩草草甸放牧价值的直接度量指标,而相似性系数的变化和草地质量指数的变化与牦牛生产力没有明显的联系,不能反映草场植被放牧价值的变化,只能指示植物群落整体的相对变化程度;牦牛的放牧强度约为1.86头/hm2是小嵩草高寒草甸暖季草场可持续生产而不退化的最大放牧强度.     

Effects of dung-pad conditions and density on coprophagous beetle assemblages in a Mediterranean rangeland

Dung beetles highly depend on the ephemeral microhabitat dung which is food resource and larval habitat at the same time. Environmental conditions surrounding a dung pad, such as vegetation structure, have an impact on dung beetle assemblages. We investigated the influence of dung conditions and surrounding habitat characteristics on Mediterranean dung beetle assemblages in a permanently grazed landscape in northern Sardinia. We sampled the dung beetle assemblages of donkey and horse dung in three different vegetation types and assessed species richness and abundance of dung beetles. Species richness was determined by dung and surrounding habitat conditions, whereas abundance was solely affected by dung conditions. However, species richness and abundance decreased with increasing dung density. The effect of dung density on species richness varied depending on vegetation type, with dry grassland exhibiting the highest number of dung beetles species at high dung density. Species composition in dung pads was influenced by abiotic factors with dwellers being negatively affected by increasing dung-pad temperature. Our results underline the importance of diverse vegetation, particularly with respect to the complexity of vegetation which interrelates with the microclimate. Furthermore, our findings illustrate the negative effect of high dung densities on dung beetle assemblages, suggesting that the degree of the intensity of use by grazing animals is important when considering measures for the conservation of dung beetles.     

Pastoral Practices to Reverse Shrub Encroachment of Sub-Alpine Grasslands: Dung Beetles (Coleoptera,Scarabaeoidea) Respond More Quickly Than Vegetation

In recent decades, pastoral abandonment has produced profound ecological changes in the Alps. In particular, the reduction in grazing has led to extensive shrub encroachment of semi-natural grasslands, which may represent a threat to open habitat biodiversity. To reverse shrub encroachment, we assessed short-term effects of two different pastoral practices on vegetation and dung beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea). Strategic placement of mineral mix supplements (MMS) and arrangement of temporary night camp areas (TNCA) for cattle were carried out during summer 2011 in the Val Troncea Natural Park, north-western Italian Alps. In 2012, one year after treatment, a reduction in shrub cover and an increase in bare ground cover around MMS sites was detected. A more intense effect was detected within TNCA through increases in forage pastoral value, and in the cover and height of the herbaceous layer. Immediately after treatment, changes in dung beetle diversity (total abundance, species richness, Shannon diversity, taxonomic and functional diversity) showed a limited disturbance effect caused by high cattle density. In contrast, dung beetle diversity significantly increased one year later both at MMS and TNCA sites, with a stronger effect within TNCA. Multivariate Regression Trees and associated Indicator Value analyses showed that some ecologically relevant dung beetle species preferred areas deprived of shrub vegetation. Our main conclusions are: i) TNCA are more effective than MMS in terms of changes to vegetation and dung beetles, ii) dung beetles respond more quickly than vegetation to pastoral practices, and iii) the main driver of the rapid response by dung beetles is the removal of shrubs. The resulting increase in dung beetle abundance and diversity, which are largely responsible for grassland ecosystem functioning, may have a positive effect on meso-eutrophic grassland restoration. Shrub encroachment in the Alps may therefore be reversed, and restoration of grassland enhanced, by using appropriate pastoral practices.     

Climatic stress, food availability and human activity as determinants of endemism patterns in the Mediterranean region: the case of dung beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea) in the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract. A study to assess the influence of abiotic (climatic conditions) and biotic factors (food resources, habitat preference and human activity) on endemism patterns of dung beetles in the Mediterranean region was conducted in the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. The Thermicity Index (It), the Mediterraneity Index (Im3) and the Aridity Index (Ia) were used to assess the influence of abiotic factors. Relative rabbit density (DR), the proportion of landscape used historically for grazing by sheep and goats and the nature of the food resource were used to assess the influence of biotic factors. Relative endemism (EN) of dung beetle assemblages was positively and significantly related with all of the factors considered. However, the Aridity and Mediterraneity Indices are the best predictors of EN. The predicted endemism (EN = 0.017 Ia + 0.004 Im3 + 0.422) was highly positively and significantly related with the observed endemism. Dung beetle assemblages with the highest relative endemism were observed in the south-eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula. This distribution corresponded to the highest Aridity and Mediterraneity. In contrast, dung beetle assemblages with lower endemism were located in more humid and temperate areas. Assemblages of dung beetles with the highest endemism comprise many species adapted to aridity and the exploitation of dry dung pellets. Conservation of traditional grazing activity by pellet-dropping sheep and goats might benefit the maintenance of dung beetle biodiversity in Mediterranean ecosystems.     

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.

     

Dung beetle diversity and functions suggest no major impacts of cattle grazing in the Brazilian Pantanal wetlands

1. Dung beetles perform relevant ecological functions in pastures, such as dung removal and parasite control. Livestock farming is the main economic activity in the Brazilian Pantanal. However, the impact of cattle grazing on the Pantanal's native dung beetle community, and functions performed by them, is still unknown. 2. This study evaluated the effects of cattle activity on dung beetle community attributes (richness, abundance, biomass, composition, and functional group) as well as their ecological functions (dung removal and soil bioturbation) in the Pantanal. In January/February 2016, dung beetles were sampled and their ecological functions measured in 16 sites of native grasslands in Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, 10 areas regularly grazed by cattle and six control ungrazed areas (> 20 years of abandonment). 3. In all, 1169 individuals from 30 species of dung beetles were collected. Although abundance, species richness, and biomass did not differ between grasslands with and without cattle activity, species composition and functional groups differed among systems. Large roller beetles were absent from non‐cattle grasslands, and the abundance, richness, and biomass of medium roller beetles was higher in those systems. 4. Despite causing changes in species/functional group composition, the results of this study show that a density compensation of functional groups in cattle‐grazed natural grasslands seems to have conserved the ecological functions (dung removal and soil bioturbation), with no significant differences between systems. 5. Therefore, these results provide evidence that cattle breeding in natural grasslands of the Brazilian Pantanal can integrate livestock production with the conservation of the dung beetle community and its ecological functions.     

Effects of the progressive abandonment of grazing on dung beetle biodiversity: body size matters

Dung beetles are an ecologically important group of insect species inhabiting semi-natural grasslands in Europe. Despite their ecological importance, several dung beetle species are currently facing local threats mainly stemming from changes in land use practices, including the abandonment of pasturelands. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the progressive abandonment of grazing lands on dung beetle alpha diversity, abundance, biomass and body size classes. Areas representing a range of trophic resource availability were compared: (i) abandoned, (ii) low and (iii) moderate grazing intensity. A total of 136,884 specimens belonging to 56 species (3 Geotrupinae; 16 Scarabaeinae; 37 Aphodiinae) of dung beetle were collected. Pastureland abandonment was shown to lead to a decrease in alpha diversity and biomass density, a reduction of 22 and 78% respectively in abandoned areas. From a biomass standpoint, the effects of pastureland abandonment varied according to the body size classes of the dung beetles, with larger species proving more susceptible to local extinction. Such body-size dependent variations led us to propose the use of both biomass and abundance data in making assessments since they are differentially sensitive to trophic resource availability. Hence, from a conservationist standpoint, the obtained results suggest that traditional pastureland management with low-moderate grazing intensity should be maintained.     

Landscape diversity of pasture dung beetle communities in the central region of mainland Japan and implications for conservation management

We studied the diversity of dung beetle communities in Japanese pastures to identify the factors that maintain or enhance the diversity of dung beetles at a landscape scale. We surveyed dung beetles from 17 pastures located in the northeastern part of Tochigi Prefecture, which is in the center of mainland Japan. From 1999 to 2001, surveys were conducted during the 6-month grazing period (May to October) by using dung baited basket traps. We also collected information about the environmental conditions and pasture management practices. Twenty-five dung beetle species belonging to Geotrupinae, Scarabaeinae, and Aphodiinae (including 13 tunneler and 12 dweller species) were recorded. The abundance of dweller species decreased with increasing elevation, possibly because of the effect of rainfall, whereas the species richness of tunneler species was affected by cattle disturbance and soil condition. Beetle species richness significantly increased with the number of years that the pastures had been grazed. Ivermectin administration did not appear to have any adverse effect on dung beetle abundance, species richness, or species diversity. The dung beetle datasets of the current study (including specific tunneler and dweller beetle groups) supported the widely documented positive relationship between local abundance and species distribution ranges. The within pasture, within area, and between area hierarchical additive partitioning of regional total diversity indicated that landscape-scale management should be implemented to conserve the regional diversity of the dung beetle communities inhabiting Japanese pastures.     

Importance of habitat heterogeneity in remnant patches for conserving dung beetles

Landscape heterogeneity affects the spatial distribution of species. This makes it an important consideration for conservation planning, particularly when designing sustainable production landscapes. We determine whether conserving landscape elements within a transformed landscape is adequate for conserving dung beetle biodiversity. Dung beetles are excellent indicators for landscape biodiversity studies as they are ecologically sensitive. Here we measure dung beetle alpha-diversity, as well as beta-diversity within landscape elements and across different landscape elements. In doing so, we assess the value of landscape elements, as well as variation within landscape elements, in determining the spatial distribution of dung beetles across a production landscape. The study was conducted in the commercial timber production area of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, South Africa. In this system, the different landscape elements are a mosaic of natural indigenous forests, grasslands and alien pine plantation blocks. Our results show that the only response for dung beetle alpha-diversity was higher species richness in grasslands and pine blocks compared to natural forests. The highest beta-diversity for a landscape element was the grassland, for elevational category was low elevational areas and grassland type was the Midlands Mistbelt Grassland. The compositional diversity (beta-diversity between elements) was significantly different for all pairwise variations between landscape elements, the elevational categories and grassland types. Natural forests embedded in the two different grassland types had greater differences in compositional diversity than those embedded in natural (grassland) or transformed (pine blocks) matrices. This highlights the need to conserve a range of similar remnant patches of natural vegetation regionally, in addition to conserving broad landscape elements (i.e. grasslands or natural forests) as conservation targets. Furthermore, our results are encouraging for the potential benefits from the ecosystem service provided by dung beetles across the whole landscape, even in the transformed elements.     

Newly released non‐native dung beetle species provide enhanced ecosystem services in New Zealand pastures

1. Whether the release of non‐native insect species benefits or harms ecosystem services has been the subject of debate. In New Zealand, the release of new non‐native dung beetle species was intended to enhance ecosystem services but concerns were raised over possible negative effects. 2. Field cage trials used three newly released dung beetle species to investigate two concerns: that soil disturbance from dung beetle activity increases soil losses in runoff after rainfall; and that dung burial increases survival of infective parasitic nematodes on pasture. 3. Three treatments – dung + beetles, dung‐only, and controls (without dung or beetles) – were applied on each of three soil types with different permeability: sandy loam, clay loam, and compacted clay. 4. Dung beetle activity resulted in significant reductions of 49% and 81% in mean surface runoff volume, depending on simulated rainfall intensity. Amounts of sediment in the runoff did not change under an extreme rainfall simulation, but in a less extreme rainfall simulation the presence of dung beetles resulted in a 97% reduction in mean sediment amount in runoff. 5. The numbers of infective third‐stage nematode larvae recovered from foliage varied considerably between soil types and through time; however, dung beetle activity reduced overall mean nematode numbers on grass around the dung pats by 71%. 6. This study adds to global evidence that dung beetles can improve agricultural ecosystem services by providing data on services that have rarely been investigated: reduced runoff/soil losses through increased soil porosity, and reductions in parasitic nematodes.