Abstract
Population studies are essential for understanding different aspects of species’ biology, estimating extinction probability, and determining evolutionary and life history. Using the mark-recapture method, we studied the abundance and population structure of dung beetle species (Deltochilum mexicanum and Dichotomius satanas) over one year in a human-modified landscape in Mexico. We captured 1960 individuals with a net recapture rate of 11%. Deltochilum mexicanum had a higher rate of recapture (14%) than Dichotomius satanas (5%). Annual variation in abundance was similar for both species, with maximum abundance occurring in summer and a marked reduction during winter. Deltochilum mexicanum was dominant inside the forest, and its abundance was influenced by vegetation cover, temperature, and humidity. Dichotomius satanas was more frequent outside the forest, and none of the considered environmental variables affected its abundance. The adult sex ratio of Deltochilum mexicanum was female-biased, whereas that of Dichotomius satanas was male-biased. The maximum estimated population size was similar for both species, but Deltochilum mexicanum had a higher number of new individuals and survival rate. Since species with different biological attributes presented a similar pattern of abundance and population structure, we conclude that environmental conditions are the main regulator of dung beetle populations in the human-modified landscape.
Highlights
Population structure and dynamics result from the interaction between species’ life-history traits and the environmental characteristics of their habitats
Population size is regulated by the magnitude of intraspecific interactions and interspecific interactions [1,3]
Using mark-recapture data, we aimed to answer the following questions: (1) How does the abundance of D. mexicanum and D. satanas vary throughout the year in two types of vegetation cover in a human-modified landscape?
Summary
Population structure and dynamics result from the interaction between species’ life-history traits and the environmental characteristics of their habitats. Any demographic parameters relevant for population size (age structure, sex ratio, longevity, and survival rate, among others) can be used to evaluate population dynamics and structure [1,2,3]. Both density-independent factors, such as environmental conditions, and density-dependent factors, such as the rate of natality, mortality, and migration, are determinants of population size. Understanding the causes of temporal and spatial variation in the number of individuals in a population is important for elucidating the mechanisms that structure populations In this way, it is possible to adequately evaluate the vulnerability of species to the modification of environmental conditions at both a local and landscape scale [4,5,6]
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