Spatial structure of the diversity of dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in savanna formations of Central Brazil

Abstract

Great losses of biodiversity in natural ecosystems are occurring as a result of growing anthropic threats. A better understanding of the contributions of spatial scales to biodiversity organization would allow improved spatial management to conserve biodiversity in those regions that are strongly impacted by anthropic activities, such the Brazilian Cerrado. The aim of this study was to evaluate how dung beetle diversity is spatially organized along the cerrado sensu stricto, a common savanna formation in central Brazil. We tested the following hypotheses: (1) dung beetle diversity shows nonrandom patterns that vary between spatial scales within the same phytophysionomy, and (2) different functional groups and the abundant and rare species display distinct and nonrandom spatial patterns of diversity along spatial scales due to different life histories. We collected dung beetles in eight areas of cerrado sensu stricto distributed in two fragments and analyzed the spatial organization of dung beetle diversity using additive diversity partitioning. A total of 6130 individuals and 54 species were collected. Additive partitioning of diversity showed a prominent importance of the scale of areas in the organization of diversity, demonstrating a stronger influence of local factors on this organization. Assemblages divided into functional groups showed differential contributions of diversity components, indicating distinct habitat influences on these groups. This work provides new insights into the spatial organization of dung beetle diversity, encompassing three spatial levels for the same phytophysionomy in the Brazilian Cerrado. These findings demonstrate the importance of maintaining spatial heterogeneity of habitats. Thus, multiple localities within a region must be preserved because of their unique diversity structuring.