Optimising design and effort for environmental surveys using dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

2016 ◽  
Vol 149 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Tocco ◽  
Danielle E.A. Quinn ◽  
John M. Midgley ◽  
Martin H. Villet
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Method ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Pitfall Trap ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Trap Design ◽  
Sampling Protocols ◽  
By Catch

AbstractIn biological monitoring, deploying an effective standardised quantitative sampling method, optimised by trap design and sampling effort, is an essential consideration. To exemplify this using dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae and Aphodiinae) communities, three pitfall trap designs (un-baited (TN), baited at ground level (flat trap, TF), and baited above the trap (hanging trap, TH)), employed with varying levels of sampling effort (number of traps=1, 2, 3 … 10; number of days=1, 2, 3), were evaluated for sampling completeness and efficiency in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Modelling and resampling simulation approaches were used to suggest optimal sampling protocols across environmentally diverse sites. Overall, TF recovered the greatest abundance and species richness of dung beetles, but behavioural guilds showed conflicting trends: endocoprids preferred TH while paracoprids and telocoprids preferred TF. Resampling simulation of trap type and the two components of sampling effort suggested that six TF traps left for three days was most efficient in obtaining a representative sample and allowed differentiation between trap types, allowing the improved efficiency to be recognised. The effect of trap type on non-target specimens, particularly ants, was also investigated. TF and TH caught almost no by-catch, which is ethically desirable.

scholarly journals Which Pitfall Traps and Sampling Effort to Choose to Evaluate Cropping System Effects on Spider and Carabid Assemblages?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoine Gardarin ◽  
Muriel Valantin-Morison
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Habitat Management ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Pitfall Trap ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Arthropod Communities ◽  
Trap Design ◽  
Activity Density

Abstract In arable agroecosystems, arthropod communities often have a reduced abundance and diversity, which represents a challenge for sampling techniques needed to detect small differences among these simplified communities. We evaluated the suitability of pitfall traps for comparing the effects of cropping systems on arthropod communities. In a field experiment, we compared the effects of two pitfall trap diameters, the type of preserving fluid and the sampling effort on three metrics (activity density, taxonomic richness, and community weighted mean [CWM] of body size) for carabids and spiders. Trap size affected the observed composition of communities, with large traps yielding a higher proportion of spiders, and a higher richness and CWM body size for both taxa. The type of preserving fluid had a weaker effect. Simulations with various sampling efforts showed that only very different communities could be distinguished with less than 10 traps per field or less than 30 field replicates. Fewer traps were required to find differences between cropping systems for body size than for other metrics. Carabid activity density and body size, and spider genus richness, were the variables better distinguishing between cropping systems with the smallest sampling effort. A high sampling effort was required for comparing activity density and richness across cropping systems. Selection of the most appropriate trap design, metrics, and crops are the main factors for optimizing the trade-off between sampling effort and the ability to detect arthropod community responses to habitat management.

Roller dung beetles of dung piles suggest habitats are alike, but that of guarding pitfall traps suggest habitats are different

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 209-213
Author(s):  
G. Asha ◽  
K.K. Navya ◽  
T.P. Rajesh ◽  
Palatty Allesh Sinu
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Pitfall Trap ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Tropical Rainforests ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Nutrient Distribution ◽  
Fragmented Forests ◽  
Diversity Studies

AbstractRoller dung beetles play a pivotal role in the nutrient distribution in soil and secondary dispersal of seeds. Dung beetles are sampled either using a dung-baited pitfall trap or an exposed dung pile on the ground. While the former method is useful for a rapid survey of dung beetles, information on the ecology and behaviour of dung beetles can be lost, which the latter method provides, but underestimates species diversity due to its inefficiency in trapping rollers. Efficiency of a new method for sampling rollers—installing guarding pitfall traps around dung piles—is assessed in three habitats—contiguous tropical rainforests, fragmented forests, and disturbed used home gardens—and two diel periods—day and night. Five guarding pitfall traps were installed at 50 cm radius around dung piles. About 98% of the total rollers were sampled in pitfall traps. The habitats were similar when the roller catches of only dung piles—conventional approach—were analyzed, but were different when the rollers of guarding pitfall traps were considered. The roller abundance was negatively affected by forest fragmentation and land-use change. About 98% of the rollers were collected at daytime. Using guarding pitfall traps around dung piles is highly recommended for dung beetle diversity studies.

Climatic variables drive temporal patterns of α and β diversities of dung beetles

2018 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
pp. 390-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.C. Ferreira ◽  
P.G. da Silva ◽  
A. Paladini ◽  
R.A. Di Mare
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Temporal Patterns ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Climatic Variables ◽  
Β Diversity ◽  
Α Diversity ◽  
Sampling Protocols ◽  
Beetle Assemblages

AbstractUnderstanding the mechanisms underpinning spatiotemporal diversity patterns of biological communities is a major goal of ecology. We aimed to test two ecological hypotheses: (i) temporal patterns of β-diversity will mostly be driven by nestedness, with a loss of species from summer to winter, and (ii) nestedness values will correlate with climatic variables instead of turnover values, indicating either a loss of species during winter or a gain of species during summer. We sampled dung beetles using standardized sampling protocols along a year in four Atlantic forest sites: two at the northwest and two at the central region of Rio Grande do Sul state, southern Brazil. We partitioned temporal patterns of β-diversity into turnover and nestedness in order to investigate if community changes are driven by species substitution or gain/loss across time. Our results highlighted five main findings: (i) dung beetle composition varied more with sites than site geographic position; (ii) there was almost one and a half ‘true’ dung beetle assemblages regarding the spatial distribution of species weighed by abundance; (iii) we found a positive influence of mean temperature and a negative influence of relative humidity on both species richness and abundance; (iv) both spatial and temporal dissimilarity among sites were dominated by species replacement, while the relative importance of nestedness was higher in temporal than spatial patterns; (v) there was an effect of precipitation and relative humidity on temporal patterns of β-diversity components, but these effects were site-dependent. Contrary to our expectations, the β-diversity component of turnover dominated both spatial and temporal patterns in dung beetle dissimilarity among sites and months. Distinct climatic variables affected differently the α-diversity and β-diversity components of dung beetle assemblages. Partitioning β-diversity into temporal components is a promising approach to unveil patterns of the community dynamics and to produce insights on mechanisms underlying such patterns.

scholarly journals Wood Pastures: A Transitional Habitat between Forests and Pastures for Dung Beetle Assemblages

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
László Somay ◽  
Viktor Szigeti ◽  
Gergely Boros ◽  
Réka Ádám ◽  
András Báldi
Keyword(s):  
Functional Group ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Assemblage Composition ◽  
Beetle Assemblages

Wood pastures are home to a variety of species, including the dung beetle. Dung beetles are an important functional group in decomposition. Specifically, in terms of livestock manure, they not only contribute to nutrient cycling but are key players in supporting human and animal health. Dung beetles, however, are declining in population, and urgent recommendations are needed to reverse this trend. Recommendations need to be based on solid evidence and specific habitats. Herein, we aimed to investigate the role of an intermediate habitat type between forests and pastures. Wood pastures are key areas for dung beetle conservation. For this reason, we compared dung beetle assemblages among forests, wood pastures, and grasslands. We complemented this with studies on the effects of dung type and season at three Hungarian locations. Pitfall traps baited with cattle, sheep, or horse dung were used in forests, wood pastures, and pasture habitats in spring, summer, and autumn. Dung beetle assemblages of wood pastures showed transient characteristics between forests and pastures regarding their abundance, species richness, Shannon diversity, assemblage composition, and indicator species. We identified a strong effect of season and a weak of dung type. Assemblage composition proved to be the most sensitive measure of differences among habitats. The conservation of dung beetles, and the decomposition services they provide, need continuous livestock grazing to provide fresh dung, as well as the maintenance of wood pastures where dung beetle assemblages typical of forests and pastures can both survive.

A novel trap design for non-lethal monitoring of dung beetles using eDNA metabarcoding

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leandro Camila ◽  
Dejean Tony ◽  
Valentini Alice ◽  
Jean Pauline ◽  
Jay-Robert Pierre
Keyword(s):  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Trap Design

scholarly journals ARTISANAL SHARK AND RAY FISHERIES IN SOUTH OF INDONESIA

2008 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-187
Author(s):  
Dharmadi ◽  
Fahmi ◽  
Kurnaen Sumadhiharga
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Method ◽  
South Coast ◽  
Artisanal Fisheries ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Chinese Cuisine ◽  
By Catch

Studies on artisanal fisheries of sharks and rays in Indonesia were carried out during 2001-2004. A market sampling method was employed to collect fisheries data from a number of major landings sites, namely: Pelabuhanratu and Cilacap in south coast of Java, Kedonganan in south coast of Bali and Tanjung Luar on the island of Lombok. Large proportions of the shark and ray landings were by-catch of tuna longlines and gillnets, and shark surface and bottom longlines from Tanjung Luar - east of Lombok. The shark landings were dominated by the families Carcharhinidae, Squalidae, Allopidae and Sphyrnidae, while rays were dominated by the Dasyatidae, Rhynchobatidae and Mobulidae. Most of the landings were processed to be dried and salted products for local consumptions. Some of them are exported to Asian countries. The most valuable part of sharks are their fins, which are a delicacy in Chinese cuisine. The major importers of Indonesian shark fins are Hongkong that contributed 46.3% of the total reported exports of shark fins from Indonesia.

scholarly journals A review and phylogeny of Scarabaeine dung beetle fossils (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), with the description of twoCanthochilumspecies from Dominican amber

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e1988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergei Tarasov ◽  
Fernando Z. Vaz-de-Mello ◽  
Frank-Thorsten Krell ◽  
Dimitar Dimitrov
Keyword(s):  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Systematic Research ◽  
Late Oligocene ◽  
Geological Time ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
Dominican Amber ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
Minimum Age ◽  
Phylogenetic Hypotheses

Despite the increasing rate of systematic research on scarabaeine dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), their fossil record has remained largely unrevised. In this paper, we review all 33 named scarabaeine fossils and describe two new species from Dominican amber (Canthochilum allenisp.n.,Canthochilum philipsivieorumsp.n.). We provide a catalogue of all fossil Scarabaeinae and evaluate their assignment to this subfamily, based primarily on the original descriptions but also, where possible, by examining the type specimens. We suggest that only 21 fossil taxa can be reliably assigned to the Scarabaeinae, while the remaining 14 should be treated as doubtful Scarabaeinae. The doubtful scarabaeines include the two oldest dung beetle fossils known from the Cretaceous and we suggest excluding them from any assessments of the minimum age of scarabaeine dung beetles. The earliest reliably described scarabaeine fossil appears to beLobateuchus parisii, known from Oise amber (France), which shifts the minimum age of the Scarabaeinae to the Eocene (53 Ma). We scored the best-preserved fossils, namelyLobateuchusand the twoCanthochilumspecies described herein, into the character matrix used in a recent morphology-based study of dung beetles, and then inferred their phylogenetic relationships with Bayesian and parsimony methods. All analyses yielded consistent phylogenies where the two fossilCanthochilumare placed in a clade with the extant species ofCanthochilum, andLobateuchusis recovered in a clade with the extant generaAteuchusandAphengium. Additionally, we evaluated the distribution of dung beetle fossils in the light of current global dung beetle phylogenetic hypotheses, geological time and biogeography. The presence of only extant genera in the late Oligocene and all later records suggests that the main present-day dung beetle lineages had already been established by the late Oligocene–mid Miocene.

Mites and internal parasites associated with the common dung beetle Geotrupes (Anoplotrupes) stercorosus (Hartmann in Scriba, 1791) in Poland

2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Sulgostowska ◽  
Krzysztof Solarz ◽  
Grażyna Madej ◽  
Krzysztof Klimaszewski
Keyword(s):  
Intestinal Parasites ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Soil Characteristics ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Internal Parasites ◽  
Eastern Border ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Rich ◽  
June July

AbstractCommon dung beetles collected in the "Sobieski Forest" (eastern border of Warsaw suburbs) were examined for the occurrence and prevalence of infections or infestations with intestinal parasites and phoretic mites in relation to soil characteristics and quality of the forest habitat. Endoparasitic fauna was represented by gregarines Didymophyes paradoxa, microsporidians Plistophora geotrupina and cysticerkoids of 2 tapeworms - Ditestolepis diaphana and Staphylocystis furcate. Prevalence of these infections was higher for beetles collected from rich habitats. Acarofauna was represented by hypopodes of Sancassania geotruporum (Astigmatina, Acaridae) and the following taxa of mesostigmatic mites: Alliphis halleri, Macrocheles glaber, Parasitus coleoptratorum and unidentified juvenile Laelapidae representative. Mites were most abundant in June, July and September. They were only slightly more numerously found on dung beetles from the rich habitats. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling, MDS (2D stress = 0.13) revealed significant similarities in the distribution of mite taxa between poor and rich sites and among the investigated months (June, July and September).

The effects of dung beetle activity on the numbers of parasitic gastrointestinal helminth larvae recovered from pasture samples

1973 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
RP Bryan
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Parasitic Nematode ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Percentage Reduction ◽  
Faecal Material ◽  
Gastrointestinal Helminth ◽  
Nematode Eggs ◽  
Cattle Faeces ◽  
Onthophagus Gazella

Studies have been made of the effect of the dung beetle, Onthophagus gazella, on the release of strongyle larvae from cattle faeces onto pasture. A series of faecal pats containing parasitic nematode eggs was placed on pasture, and beetles were added to some pats to give three levels of beetle activity, viz. 100 g, 200-250 g, and 500 g of faeces per pair of beetles. These pats were duplicated on irrigated and non-irrigated pasture. In both cases the numbers of strongyle larvae migrating from pats attacked by dung beetles were significantly less than those migrating from control pats containing no dung beetles. Compared with larval recoveries from control pats, the percentage reduction in numbers of larvae migrating from pats on irrigated pasture was 50% for pats of 100 g faeces per pair of beetles, 48 % for pats of 200-250 g faeces per pair, and 84% for pats of 500 g of faeces per pair. The respective figures for pats on nonirrigated pasture were 76, 86, and 93 % reduction in larval numbers. The results indicated that strongyle larvae migrated from faecal material buried by dung beetles, provided soil moisture was adequate. More larvae were recovered from the pasture surrounding irrigated faecal pats attacked by beetles than from the non-irrigated pats. During warm dry weather, surface faecal debris remaining after beetlc attack appeared to be helminthologically sterile.

scholarly journals Timber Inventory of Large Acreages Using Stratified Two-Stage List Sampling

2005 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 152-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce E. Borders ◽  
Barry D. Shiver ◽  
Michael L. Clutter
Keyword(s):  
Forest Inventory ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Field Sampling ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Timber Inventory

Abstract We present two-stage list sampling estimators and methodology that are useful in a forest inventory context. The advantages of this sampling method are discussed and illustrated with an inventory of a 3,419-acre timber tract. In this example, two-stage list sampling resulted in strata level and tract level estimates that were very close to estimates from a more intensive cruise that used twice as much field sampling effort. South. J. Appl. For. 29(3):152–157.

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