Dung Beetles’ Life in Manure Helps Plants Grow

Abstract

Semiarid environments are drylands characterized by very little rain and high temperatures. In Mexico, these environments are found in the center and north of the country. It is common to think that few species could exist in these hot, dry environments, but semiarid environments actually contain a great variety of life forms. Insects called dung beetles are one very important example. Dung beetles use the manure (poop) excreted by mammals as a food source and to make their nests. By using manure, dung beetles help the environment in ways that also benefit humans. In this article, we will describe how one species of dung beetle helps plants grow in semiarid environments. By burying manure into the soil, dung beetles make the nutrients in the manure available to plants, so the plants can grow faster and taller than they could in the absence of the beetles.