Changes in land use affect dung beetle communities but do not affect ecosystem services in the Cerrado of Central Brazil

Abstract

1. Changes in land use have been identified as one of the main drivers of global biodiversity loss, and also negatively affect ecosystem services. Dung beetles are capable of providing a variety of ecosystem services and can be used as bioindicators.2. We assess whether the land use changes of the Cerrado areas for agricultural purposes (pasture and soybean crops) affects dung beetle community and the associated ecosystem services (dung removal and secondary seed dispersal) provided by dung beetles on their diversity in the Federal District, Brazil.3. A total of 32 261 individuals (Scarabaeinae, Aphodiinae and Anaidinae) were collected. The abundance and biomass of dung beetles were significantly higher in soybean (n = 19 354; biomass = 1145.4 g) and pasture (n = 9865; biomass = 753.6 g) compared to cerrado (n = 3042; biomass = 311.6 g). Sixty‐one species were collected in the cerrado, 58 in soybean and 56 in pasture, most species were paracoprids (52–60%), but no significant differences were observed for the species richness and diversity indices among the different land use systems. The structure of the dung beetle community in areas of the cerrado was distinct from that in pasture and soybean areas, and the latter two were similar. The land use systems did not affect the ecosystem services provided by dung beetles.4. Our results showed that the Cerrado dung beetle community was unique and specific, indicating an imperative need for its preservation, due to its intrinsic value and its importance for the functioning of the ecosystem.