Wood Pastures: A Transitional Habitat between Forests and Pastures for Dung Beetle Assemblages

László Somay,Gergely Boros,Réka Ádám,András Báldi,Viktor Szigeti

doi:10.3390/f12010025

Abstract

Wood pastures are home to a variety of species, including the dung beetle. Dung beetles are an important functional group in decomposition. Specifically, in terms of livestock manure, they not only contribute to nutrient cycling but are key players in supporting human and animal health. Dung beetles, however, are declining in population, and urgent recommendations are needed to reverse this trend. Recommendations need to be based on solid evidence and specific habitats. Herein, we aimed to investigate the role of an intermediate habitat type between forests and pastures. Wood pastures are key areas for dung beetle conservation. For this reason, we compared dung beetle assemblages among forests, wood pastures, and grasslands. We complemented this with studies on the effects of dung type and season at three Hungarian locations. Pitfall traps baited with cattle, sheep, or horse dung were used in forests, wood pastures, and pasture habitats in spring, summer, and autumn. Dung beetle assemblages of wood pastures showed transient characteristics between forests and pastures regarding their abundance, species richness, Shannon diversity, assemblage composition, and indicator species. We identified a strong effect of season and a weak of dung type. Assemblage composition proved to be the most sensitive measure of differences among habitats. The conservation of dung beetles, and the decomposition services they provide, need continuous livestock grazing to provide fresh dung, as well as the maintenance of wood pastures where dung beetle assemblages typical of forests and pastures can both survive.

Highlights

Every year, four billion tons of livestock feces are produced in Europe [1]
Its decomposition is an essential function of ecosystems, and dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae, Aphodiinae; Geotrupidae), which are widespread across most terrestrial habitats, play an important role in it [2,3]
We explored the differences between the composition of dung beetle assemblages with nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) using a Bray–Curtis similarity measure [42]

Summary

Introduction

Four billion tons of livestock feces are produced in Europe [1]. Its decomposition is an essential function of ecosystems, and dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae, Aphodiinae; Geotrupidae), which are widespread across most terrestrial habitats, play an important role in it [2,3]. But even more importantly by chopping, spreading, and burying it, thereby making it available for other decomposing organisms [5,6]. By accelerating decomposition, they contribute to the soil’s nutrient cycle and stimulate plant growth by fertilization (increasing the nutrient content of the soil) [7]. They contribute to the soil’s nutrient cycle and stimulate plant growth by fertilization (increasing the nutrient content of the soil) [7] Their vertical tunnels promote the mixing of soil layers, increase aeration, and permeability [8]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion