Interspecific and intraspecific variation in diet preference in five Atlantic forest dung beetle species

Sandra B. Mikich,Elizabeth H. Raine,Owen T. Lewis,Eleanor M. Slade

doi:10.1111/een.12711

Sandra B. Mikich, Elizabeth H. Raine + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1111/een.12711

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Abstract

1. Dung beetles are commonly assumed to be generalist feeders, but there has been limited work in identifying whether there is interspecific variation in feeding preference. Equally, there has been no work exploring whether generalist feeding behaviour in a species is a result of within‐species specialisation.2. This study identified the individual and species‐level feeding preferences of five dung beetle species towards human, jaguar and pig dung using a choice experiment.3. It was found that species varied in their preference for the dung types, but there was no evidence that within a species, individual beetles varied in their dung choice. These findings were similar to results from field experiments that are more typically used to assess feeding preferences in dung beetles.4. The results suggest that individual specialism in feeding may not be common in dung beetles. However, there is variation in feeding preferences among species, which is often overlooked and can have implications for the ecosystem functions they provide. It is suggested that choice arenas can be used to assess feeding preferences in dung beetle species that are not abundant enough to reliably estimate dietary choice from field studies.

Highlights

Resource use can vary at the level of the species or of the individual (Bolnick et al, 2003; Violle et al, 2012)
Identifying niche variation in feeding is of particular relevance for taxa where resource use is related to ecosystem functions, such as dung beetles that contribute towards dung removal and secondary seed dispersal (Nichols et al, 2008)
Species can vary in their preference for certain dung types (Bogoni & Hernández, 2014), interspecific feeding variation is often overlooked in studies of dung beetle ecology

Summary

Introduction

Resource use can vary at the level of the species (interspecific variation) or of the individual (intraspecific variation) (Bolnick et al, 2003; Violle et al, 2012). 2. This study identified the individual and species-level feeding preferences of five dung beetle species towards human, jaguar and pig dung using a choice experiment. 3. It was found that species varied in their preference for the dung types, but there was no evidence that within a species, individual beetles varied in their dung choice.

Results

Conclusion