scholarly journals Dung beetle species introductions: when an ecosystem service provider transforms into an invasive species

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9872
Author(s):  
Min R. Pokhrel ◽  
Stuart C. Cairns ◽  
Nigel R. Andrew
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Plasticity ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Beetle Species ◽  
High Fecundity ◽  
Onthophagus Taurus ◽  
Thermal Window ◽  
Successful Invader ◽  
Moisture Conditions

Dung beetle introduction programmes were designed to accelerate exotic livestock dung degradation and to control dung breeding pestiferous flies and livestock parasites. The introduction programmes provided exotic dung beetle species with an opportunity to cross natural barriers and spread beyond their native range. There are no reports that explain what probable adaptation mechanisms enable particular dung beetle species to be the most successful invader. Here we identify the morphological, biological, physiological, ecological and behavioural attributes of the four most widespread and successful dung beetle species in introduced areas on a global scale in relation to the assumption that these species are different from other exotic and native dung beetles. We have recognised Digitonthophagus gazella (Fabricius), Onthophagus taurus (Schreber), Euoniticellus intermedius (Reiche) and Aphodius fimetarius (Linnaeus) as the most successful invaders based on their spread, predominance, distribution range and the reports of invasion. Each of these four species has different natural history traits that increase their fitness making them successful invaders. D. gazella has high fecundity and spreading ability, can instantly locate and colonise fresh and nutritious dung, and has a broad thermal window. O. taurus has morphological plasticity, high fecundity, high brood survival rate due to bi-parenting, and is adapted to extreme thermal and moisture conditions. E. intermedius has remnant-dung feeding abilities, a wide thermal window, functioning best at upper-temperature levels, and successful breeding and survival abilities at extremely low soil moisture conditions. A. fimetarius is small-sized, has high breeding and dispersal abilities, and is adapted to lower thermal and upper moisture extremes and variable soil conditions. Discussed here are perspectives on adaptive attributes of dung beetle species that are important to consider during their selection for redistributions. We have elaborated on the fitness and success characteristics of the four species individually. Further, we recommend a prior-introduction baseline monitoring of native dung beetle assemblages so as to evaluate the future impact of exotic dung beetle introductions on the recipient ecosystem.

scholarly journals Morphological Characterization of Root System Architecture in Diverse Tomato Genotypes during Early Growth

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 3888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurora Alaguero-Cordovilla ◽  
Francisco Gran-Gómez ◽  
Sergio Tormos-Moltó ◽  
José Pérez-Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
System Architecture ◽  
Lateral Root ◽  
Morphological Plasticity ◽  
Root System Architecture ◽  
Morphological Characterization ◽  
Early Growth ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Wild Tomato Species ◽  
Local Soil

Plant roots exploit morphological plasticity to adapt and respond to different soil environments. We characterized the root system architecture of nine wild tomato species and four cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) varieties during early growth in a controlled environment. Additionally, the root system architecture of six near-isogenic lines from the tomato ‘Micro-Tom’ mutant collection was also studied. These lines were affected in key genes of ethylene, abscisic acid, and anthocyanin pathways. We found extensive differences between the studied lines for a number of meaningful morphological traits, such as lateral root distribution, lateral root length or adventitious root development, which might represent adaptations to local soil conditions during speciation and subsequent domestication. Taken together, our results provide a general quantitative framework for comparing root system architecture in tomato seedlings and other related species.

Effect of Density and Extra Dung on Brood Parasitism in the Dung Beetle, Onthophagus Taurus

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Crowe ◽  
Erin Raspet ◽  
Jan Rychtar ◽  
Sat Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Brood Parasitism ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Onthophagus Taurus

scholarly journals Evolution and plasticity of morph‐specific integration in the bull‐headed dung beetle Onthophagus taurus

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (19) ◽  
pp. 10558-10570
Author(s):  
Patrick T. Rohner ◽  
Anna L. M. Macagno ◽  
Armin P. Moczek
Keyword(s):  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Onthophagus Taurus

scholarly journals Correction: The Gut Microbiomes of Two Pachysoma MacLeay Desert Dung Beetle Species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) Feeding on Different Diets

PLoS ONE ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e0165376
Author(s):  
Philippa Z. N. Franzini ◽  
Jean-Baptiste Ramond ◽  
Clarke H. Scholtz ◽  
Catherine L. Sole ◽  
Sandra Ronca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Beetle Species

Opener, packer wheel and packing force effects on crop emergence and yield of direct seeded wheat, canola and field peas

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Johnston ◽  
G. P. Lafond ◽  
W. E. May ◽  
G. L. Hnatowich ◽  
G. E. Hultgreen
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Direct Seeding ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
High Soil Moisture ◽  
Pea Seedlings ◽  
Field Peas ◽  
Furrow Opener ◽  
Direct Seeded ◽  
Moisture Conditions

An understanding of the effects of different opener designs and on-row packing force would help producers in their selection of appropriate direct seeding implement options for their soil conditions. A field trial was conducted at three locations (Indian Head, Sylvania and Watrous) in Saskatchewan from 1997 to 1999 to evaluate the effect of opener-packer design (spoon-steel V packer; spoon-flat rubber packer; paired row-steel V packer; paired row-flat rubber packer; sweep-pneumatic tire) in combination with a range of on-row packing forces [0, 333, 549, 746, and 1000 Newton (N) per press wheel] on crop emergence and grain yield with direct seeding. The differences observed between opener-packer combinations in this study varied by less than 10% for grain yield, and were almost always associated with the opener design and not the packer type. Despite the variable results, there was a tendency for higher pea and wheat emergence with the sweep + tire compared with other opener types at those locations that tended to be drier in the spring. Also, grain yield tended to be greater for the sweep + tire in 1999 at Indian Head, when the heavy-textured soil at this site had high soil moisture conditions at seeding. The responses to packing force varied with different years and among the crops. Generally, 333 N per press wheel provided adequate emergence and grain yield across the environmental conditions encountered in this study, regardless of the opener-packer combination. In 1997, 5% more pea seedlings emerged with some amount of packing compared with no packing. Relative to the check, some packing resulted in wheat grain yield that was 13% greater at three of the location-by-year combinations, and wheat emergence that was 9% greater in 1998. However, with canola excessive packing force (i.e., the two highest vs. lower packing forces) resulted in 11 fewer seedlings m-2 in 1999. A packing pressure of 333 N per press wheel provided adequate emergence and grain yield across varied environmental conditions, with higher packing force only negatively influencing emergence in canola, and not yield. Key words: Furrow opener, packing force, emergence, direct seeding, zero till

Biodiversity, conservation, and hotspot atlas of Costa Rica:  a dung beetle perspective (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1457 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
BERT KOHLMANN ◽  
ÁNGEL SOLÍS ◽  
ORTWIN ELLE ◽  
XINIA SOTO ◽  
RICARDO RUSSO
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Costa Rica ◽  
Gap Analysis ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Costa Rican ◽  
Beetle Species ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
High Species Richness ◽  
Different Levels

This paper is an analysis of the distribution of areas of high species richness and endemicity based on dung beetles living in the different Holdridge life-zones of Costa Rica by using a geographic information system (GIS). Endemism was examined in relation to whether the species were shared with Nicaragua and/or Panama, or if they were strictly Costa Rican. The species composition of dung beetle distributions in the sampling areas and life-zones was evaluated. Species distribution was also analyzed in relation to altitudinal levels. The species richness and endemicity maps served as a base for doing a gap analysis and defining four different levels of high priority conservation areas. We also investigated what percentage of these priority areas is under some type of protection or conservation scheme and which of these areas should be enlarged. Also considered is the feasibility that these areas under protection have for enlargement, considering possible problems and interactions with present land-use. We include a list of all the recorded dung beetle species for Costa Rica, as well as their presence in the different Holdridge life-zones and their endemicity status. This study clearly demonstrates the need to include insects in biodiversity-endemicity studies because different and more detailed results are obtained in relation to vertebrate and plant-based studies.

scholarly journals Two dung beetle species that disperse mimetic seeds both feed on eland dung

2016 ◽  
Vol Volume 112 (Number 7/8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy J. Midgley ◽  
Joseph D.M. White ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Isotopic Analysis ◽  
Beetle Species ◽  
Large Herbivores ◽  
Species Being

Abstract Scarabaeus spretus zur Strassen was observed to roll and bury Ceratocaryum argenteum (Restionaceae) seeds in the sandplain fynbos of the Potberg area of the De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa. This species is the second dung beetle species found to be deceived by the faecal mimicry of C. argenteum seeds – the first species being Epirinus flagellatus. An isotopic analysis suggests that both these dung beetle species most likely feed on eland (Taurotragus oryx), not bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus), dung. Thus the model in this mimicry is eland dung; this interaction suggests large herbivores are an integral part of this fynbos.

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