Beetle Assemblages Research Articles

The umbrella value of caribou management strategies for biodiversity conservation in boreal forests under global change

Single-species conservation management is often proposed to preserve biodiversity in human-disturbed landscapes. How global change will impact the umbrella value of single-species management strategies remains an open question of critical conservation importance. We assessed the effectiveness of threatened boreal caribou as an umbrella for bird and beetle conservation under global change. We combined mechanistic, spatially explicit models of forest dynamics and predator-prey interactions to forecast the impact of management strategies on the survival of boreal caribou in boreal forest. We then used predictive models of species occupancy to characterize concurrent impacts on bird and beetle diversity. Landscapes were simulated based on three scenarios of climate change and four of forest management. We found that strategies that best mitigate human impact on boreal caribou were an effective umbrella for maintaining bird and beetle assemblages. While we detected a stronger effect of land-use change compared to climate change, the umbrella value of management strategies for caribou habitat conservation were still impacted by the severity of climate change. Our results showed an interplay among changes in forest attributes, boreal caribou mortality, as well as bird and beetle species assemblages. The conservation status of some species mandates the development of recovery strategies, highlighting the importance of our study which shows that single-species conservation can have important umbrella benefits despite global change.

The ecological functions of dung beetles are shaped by multiple dimensions of diversity

Abstract A mechanistic understanding of the relationship between multiple dimensions of species diversity and ecosystem functioning is needed to safeguard ecological processes critical to human well‐being. We evaluated how taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversities, as well as the assembly mechanisms of dung beetle communities, percent forest cover and landscape fragmentation, affect dung burial, soil excavation efficiency and dung fly larvae abundance in Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, a complex tropical landscape. Dung beetle functions were measured in 15 landscapes representing a gradient of forest cover loss (0%–100%). Phylogenetically clustered assemblages of large tunneler dung beetles showed the highest dung burial efficiency across the landscape. Fly larvae abundance was negatively correlated with the taxonomic diversity and functional evenness of dung beetles. Forest cover and landscape fragmentation did not significantly affect dung burial effectiveness, suggesting a high degree of functional redundancy. Dung burial efficacy is mainly driven by selection mechanisms, in which a single or a few phylogenetically close species disproportionately affect a given function. Fly larvae abundance was controlled by a complementary functional effect where each dung beetle species additively affected fly larvae survival. Hence, multiple functions are maintained by contrasting mechanisms and different diversity dimensions. High dung beetle species richness may foster pest fly control in tropical landscapes such as Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve. Our findings highlight the need to assess multiple dimensions of diversity since each can operate concurrently and contrastingly on the different ecological functions of species assemblages.

Importance of large-diameter conifer snags for saproxylic beetle (Cerambycidae) assemblages in old-growth remnants in Japan

ABSTRACT Conversion of old-growth forests to managed forests reduces the amount and variety of dead wood, particularly large snags (standing dead trees) are disappeared. Therefore, organisms that rely on large snags are considered to be severely affected by forest practices that convert old-growth forests to managed forests. We examined the effect of snag characteristics (diameter, bark cover, and decay gradient) on longicorn beetle (Cerambycidae) assemblages to search for species that prefer large-diameter snags in two old-growth remnants in a cool-temperate mixed forest and a sub-boreal conifer forest in Hokkaido, Japan. We collected beetles using window traps attached to conifer snags belonging to genus Abies and Picea and evaluated how snag characteristics affected beetles that feed on conifers with considering spatial autocorrelation. Species richness and total abundance were not associated with any of the snag characteristics. However, permutation tests in redundancy analysis revealed that snag diameter and bark cover affected species composition in the mixed forest, while only snag diameter had a significant effect in the conifer forest. Two (Macroleptura regalis and Prionus insularis insularis) and one (Sachalinobia koltzei) species preferred large-diameter snags in the mixed forest and the conifer forest, respectively. These species should be used as conservation targets to reduce the impacts of forest practices on saproxylic beetles. In contrast, one species (Molorchus minor fuscus) preferred small-diameter snags in the conifer forest. To conserve species that rely on large snags, we should maintain large snags in harvesting operations and retain large living trees for the future recruitment of large snags.

Comparison of alien Robinia pseudoacacia stands with native forest stands across different taxonomic groups

There is much knowledge about the impact of non-native Robinia pseudoacacia on native ecosystems, but mostly it is related to one group of organisms. In this article, we provide an analysis of the impact of R. pseudoacacia on the surrounding biota with a broader scope in a model area with homogeneous abiotic conditions compared and analysed by the twin plots method. Microclimatic conditions and the changes in the species composition of vegetation, terrestrial gastropods, carabid beetles, bats, and acoustic diversity were analysed. The planted Robinia stands were always brighter and warmer and had lower canopy closure than the control plots in the native floodplain forest. More nitrogen and phosphorus were recorded in the soil of the Robinia stands. The floristic composition changed the most based on the planting of Robinia trees. Compared to those in the adjacent floodplain forest, more heliophilous neophytes, archaeophytes and grasses were found. Assemblages of gastropods and carabid beetles were less affected by the planting of Robinia trees and more by the microclimatic conditions of the studied locality. The number of recorded bats and acoustic diversity were higher in native floodplain forests due to food and shelter options.All results show that the planting of Robinia trees changes the microclimatic conditions and species composition of forest stands. The warmer and less humid environment under Robinia stands is not desirable in the face of ongoing climate change. The alien (including invasive) and ruderal plant species in the understorey are supported due to the more favourable brighter conditions and nitrogen fixation in the soil. Additionally, the other groups of organisms react negatively to changes under Robinia trees in terms of microclimatic conditions, food and shelter sources. Therefore, forest managers, policy-makers and conservation workers should choose stratified management when deciding whether and where to plant R. pseudoacacia.

The effects of heterogeneity created by treefall, landslide, and stream on ground beetle assemblages in a primary beech forest

Old-growth forests play essential roles in maintaining biodiversity and providing ecosystem services. While heterogeneity produced by various natural disturbances and micro-topography is an integral part of old-growth forest ecosystems, the effects of such natural disturbances and heterogeneity on arthropod diversity in old-growth forests are not fully understood. In this study, we evaluated how the heterogeneity produced by treefalls, landslides, and streams influences ground beetle diversity in an old-growth beech forest in the Tadami Biosphere Reserve, Japan. Fourteen plots composed of five forest interior, three treefall gaps, three landslides, and three along a stream were established, with 15 pitfall traps installed in each plot. Traps were opened for two days in each season. The results showed that canopy openness was the highest in landslide gaps, whereas litter depth was the lowest along the stream. Species richness was lowest along the stream but was similarly high in the other three habitat types. The activity density of beetles was also lowest along the stream, but highest in the landslide gaps. Landslide gaps and streams had distinct species compositions and several indicator species, respectively, indicating that soil disturbances involved in landslides and repeated overflow by snowmelt and heavy rain along the stream provide specific environmental conditions that differ from the forest interior and treefall gaps. This study demonstrates that heterogeneity derived from natural disturbances and streams enhances biodiversity in old-growth forests. These findings can be used to develop management measures that mimic natural disturbances in order to conserve biodiversity in managed forests.

Detecting functional rarity in a hyperdiverse Amazonian dung beetle assemblage

The functional space of an ecological community is not evenly filled by its species. Instead, it is usually divided into areas of high species density, where species with common combinations of functional traits are grouped into species rich clusters, while lower density areas are filled with species poor clusters or isolated species with uncommon or unique combinations of traits. Species whose functional traits differ from those of the rest of the community are expected to play distinct ecological roles and over-contribute to ecosystem functionality. Sampling methods used to characterize arthropod assemblages usually target subsets of the community and filter species based on their functional traits, reducing the probability of detecting species with uncommon combinations of functional traits. Consideration of these species is particularly important for characterizing the functional structure and resilience of ecological communities inhabiting threatened ecosystems such as lowland Amazonian rainforests, in which dung beetles play multiple ecological roles and are commonly used as ecological indicators. In this study, we characterize the functional structure of a diverse Amazonian dung beetle assemblage using five different sampling methods (dung- and carrion-baited pitfalls, dung-baited aerial traps, flight interception traps, and visual transects) and 18 different functional traits. Our main objective is to assess the suitability of these methods for the detection of the functional volume of the assemblage and of species with uncommon or unique combinations of functional traits that are expected to support vulnerable ecosystem functions. We found that, although dung-baited pitfalls (DPF) detected the highest species richness and proportion of the functional volume, they did not detect 30 species out of 103 and over 20% of the functional volume of the assemblage. The additional sampling methods captured more species with uncommon combinations of functional traits than expected by chance, some of which were trophic specialists not attracted to DPFs. The use of complementary sampling methods resulted in a better characterization of the functional structure of dung beetle communities inhabiting both terra firme and floodplain Amazonian rainforests and revealed functional resilience and rare species playing ecological roles overlooked by DPFs. The consideration of these species is of great importance given the threats that tropical rainforests face worldwide.

Epigeic Carabids (Coleoptera, Carabidae) as Bioindicators in Different Variants of Scots Pine Regeneration: Implication for Forest Landscape Management

Maintaining biodiversity is one of the factors determining the proper functioning of ecosystems, especially those with high human impact. Ground beetles, as bioindicators, are particularly valuable in understanding ecosystem responses and sustainability in forest and landscape management. Focusing on the regeneration of pine forests, this study aimed to describe ground beetle assemblages on Scots pine natural and artificial regeneration in northeastern Poland. This study was conducted between 2016 and 2018. Pitfall traps were set up for catching epigeic carabids on previously prepared research plots designated for natural and artificial pine regeneration. The research areas included three variants: N—natural pine regeneration, plots without soil preparation; NP—natural pine regeneration with traditional soil preparation by ploughing; and A—artificial pine regeneration with ploughing. Four plots as replicants were selected in each experimental variant, with six pitfall traps in the transects running through the centre of each study plot. In each year of the study, 11 samples were collected from each plot; overall, 33 samples per plot were collected during the three years. As a result of this study, 26,654 ground beetle individuals belonging to 89 species were caught during the three-year observation. Natural regeneration without soil preparation (N) was the most favourable in terms of the occurrence of stabilised assemblages of ground beetles. However, the remaining methods of pine regeneration, on a multi-annual scale (2016–2018), contributed to the increase in the number of ground beetles but also provided high variability in assemblage composition, diversity indices, and life-history traits. Thus, in the early stage of pine regeneration, each of the examined variants of pine regeneration can be used without fear of causing damage to carabid populations. However, further studies are required to investigate the effect of different pine regeneration types on carabid beetle assemblages over a longer period.

Beetle mania: Understanding pond aquatic beetles diversity patterns through a multiple-facet approach

Ecological studies searching for drivers of biodiversity variation have frequently focused on taxonomic richness. However, more aspects of biodiversity, namely diversity facets can be considered to properly assess biotic-environment relationships. Here, we explore the environmental factors that could control the four biodiversity facets of aquatic Coleoptera from 93 regionally sampled Patagonian ponds. We also explore which are the ponds with high diversity values of all facets to prioritize them with a high conservation value. We fitted generalized additive models (GAM) to test relationships among environment (i.e., local and climatic variables) and aquatic beetles diversity facets (i.e., richness (SD), functional diversity (FD), phylogenetic diversity (PD), and local contribution to local beta diversity (LCBD). Climatic drivers were the most important predictors of beetle diversity facets, which exhibited linear and nonlinear responses. Thus, ponds from warmer Patagonia exhibited the highest values of SD and PD, whereas LCBD also peaked on colder sites suggesting that ponds under extreme temperatures sustain unique beetle assemblages. Moreover, ponds located in areas with higher precipitation variability exhibit the highest values of LCBD (i.e., unique assemblages). This result in addition to arid conditions in Patagonia prevailing since 16 m.y.a made us think that Patagonian beetle pond-dwellers are basally adapted to aridity. We calculated an index that summarizes the four facets patterns, to assign high conservation value to those ponds with higher index values. The relative importance of each facet varies from pond to pond. Hence, this multifaceteded approach not only allows us to identify priority areas for biodiversity conservation but also focuses on the importance of including multiple facets to understand biodiversity spatial patterns.

Responses of necrophilous beetles to animal mass mortality in the Australian Alps

A diversity of insects can be found at the remains of dead animals (carrion) and they play a vital role in its decomposition and recycling. An emerging global problem with carrion is animal mass mortality events – the sudden, rapid die-off of many animals resulting in a large increase to the localised carrion resource pool. Yet, little is known about how insects respond to sudden and large inputs of carrion. We conducted an experiment in a mountainous alpine region of south-eastern Australia and compared beetle assemblages found at single carcass and mass mortality sites. We also examined the effects of vertebrate exclusion, and decomposition stage on beetles. We found 4,774 beetles representing 146 different species/morphospecies from 17 families. The most abundant species was Saprinus cyaneus cyaneus (Histeridae), and species of Staphylinidae and Silphidae also dominated the fauna, which is typical for necrophilous beetles in Australia. We also found a clear temporal change in beetle assemblages, with abundance and richness peaking during the active decay stage. We found that beetle abundance was greater at single carcasses than mass mortality sites, possibly as an artifact of sampling, and that species richness was similar among these two carcass treatment types. We found no significant effect of vertebrate exclusion on beetles, suggesting that large scavengers in the study system may not influence necrophilous insect communities around carrion.Implications for insect conservation: Our study highlights the diversity of beetles that can be found at carrion and their similar composition to the fauna found in other areas in the south-east of the Australian continent. Beetles may have reduced abundance at mass mortality sites which could affect their ability to contribute to carrion removal relative to smaller carrion quantities. Further research is required to quantify the role of other insects in carrion removal under a range of natural and mass mortality scenarios.

Contrasting results of multiple species delimitation approaches cause uncertainty in synecological studies: A case study on Sri Lankan chafers

Abstract Biodiversity patterns are the sum of multiple overlapping species distributions. Their analysis therefore requires proper species inference. DNA‐based species delimitation has become increasingly popular for such assessments, but their robustness is often problematic due to incongruence between multiple delimitation approaches. Here, we explored how contrasting results of different species’ delimitations translate into conclusions of synecological studies, exemplified by assemblages of phytophagous scarab beetles in Sri Lanka from different elevations and forest types. Particularly, we compared estimates based on complete assemblages and on cumulated species inventories inferred from individually analysed subclades. The patterns of assemblage similarity were analysed across different spatial scales with reference to morphospecies, molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) and haplotypes. Method‐related ambiguity of species (MOTUs) estimates, which also included subclade inferences, severely affected the certainty of apparent biodiversity patterns at most spatial scales. Even more contrasting patterns resulted from individual clade‐wise analyses of faunal similarity or even from cumulated species inventories from individual clade‐wise species delimitation analysis. In this case study of tropical chafer beetles, haplotypes provided only very little explanatory information, since genetically highly diverse populations widely lacked shared haplotypes. Therefore, searching proper species boundaries should be the ultimate goal of biodiversity assessments to lend an enduring meaning to biodiversity research and its sustainable application. Our study underlines the need for awareness when synecological observations from different studies are integrated, which use different species delimitation methods for their biodiversity assessment, and its potential impact on conservation management.

Importance of stochastic assembly processes influencing beetle communities increases after logging

Xerothermophilous beetles are one of the endangered ecological groups of animals, mainly because of the loss of suitable habitats for their development. Many species of these beetles are associated with specific light conditions. Those preferring higher insolation levels may find such conditions in coppices. Coppicing is a type of forest management with a long history, which allowed the survival of many species in the European landscape. After WWII coppicing management was widely abandoned and coppices were transformed into high forest, which caused a significant decline in forest biodiversity. In the Podyjí National Park at the border of Czechia and Austria, coppicing was re-established in two neglected coppices by cutting trees on areas of approximately one hectare in the winter of 2015/2016 to support heliophilous and endangered species of plants and animals. We carried out a study in these two areas by using flight interception traps during the year before the logging (2015), and two years after the logging (2016 and 2017). We analysed the effect of the logging and the following succession on beetle assemblages by comparing beetle taxocoenoses before and after logging. The creation of the clearings in closed-canopy forests had a positive effect on overall species richness and supported threatened species of beetles. We revealed that unlike α-diversity, which was highest during the first year after logging, spatial differentiation of the assemblage (β-diversity) was highest during the second year after logging. Co-occurrence analysis showed that beetle assemblages tended to co-occur more than expected by chance during all study years, indicating shared environmental preferences. On the other hand, after logging the species co-occurrence pattern was closer to random species distribution, showing that dispersal ability and random immigration also play important role in assembly processes.

Different soybean plant arrangements affect ground beetle assemblages

Different soybean plant arrangements affect ground beetle assemblages

Severe simplification of the structure of dung beetle assemblages in neotropical soybean croplands regardless of the native vegetation domain

The conversion of native vegetation into agricultural areas is arguably the key driver of biodiversity declines globally. We assessed the responses of dung beetle assemblages (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) to the effects of native vegetation conversion into soybean monoculture in different vegetation domains (Amazonian forest, scrubland savannahs and transitional vegetation) in the world’s largest tropical soybean (Glycine max L.) agricultural frontier. We also assessed the effects of landscape variables (amount of native habitat and amount of pasture) and land use history (time of land use change including soybean cultivation and cattle pastures). We sampled dung beetles at 100 study landscapes throughout the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, within a region encompassing Amazonian forests, the drier Cerrado savannahs, and transitional vegetation domain between these biomes. In total, we recorded 71,043 individuals of 165 species, with 39,090 individuals (155 species) sampled in native vegetation and 31,953 individuals (75 species) in soybean monoculture areas, 30 species of which could persist in croplands. We found differences in species composition, and lower species richness, overall abundance and biomass in monoculture areas, compared to adjacent native habitat. Time since land-use change into pasture was the main determinant of species richness and species compositional similarity in monocultures, while none of the landscape and land use history variables were informative in explaining overall abundance. We provide clear evidence that the conversion of native vegetation into soybean monoculture negatively affects dung beetle assemblages. Furthermore, croplands harboured their own unique dung beetle assemblages containing species typical of open-habitats and pasturelands, which are likely tracking the historical advance of the agricultural frontier. However, species typical of forest environments were most detrimentally affected and were largely missing in cropland areas.

Urban intensity and flower community structure drive monkey beetle assemblage in Cape Town

Background: Urban landscapes present an important opportunity for pollinator conservation, but little is known about the status and distribution of pollinator populations in urban habitats in Africa. This represents a major gap in the development of a global understanding of urban pollinators – particularly from the rapidly urbanising context. This study uses a speciose clade of flower-visiting beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Hopliini) to explore patterns of pollinator distribution in a major metropolitan area in South Africa. Objectives: We investigated community composition across gradients of urban intensity (defined according to the percentage of soil-sealing within 1 km2 of each sampling location) and socio-economic status to determine pollinator responses to these urban landscape effects. Methods: A selection of 142 sites were surveyed twice in the austral spring seasons of 2018 and 2019. Data were collected on habitat structure, flower diversity, and pollinator diversity. Results: The study found that different feeding guilds of monkey beetles favoured different levels of urban intensity and that beetle richness significantly correlated with flower richness. It did not, however, correlate with diversity indicating that abundance is less impacted than the number of species present. Monkey beetles with moderate sensitivity to urban intensity benefitted from the presence of preferred species of flowers. Conclusion: Overall, the findings demonstrate the importance of plant community assemblage in supporting urban monkey beetles. We recommend landscaping with preferred flower species in urban parks to support urban pollinators.

Temporal changes of taxonomic and functional diversity in dung beetles inhabiting forest fragments and pastures in Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

We evaluated short- (among months within-years) and long-term (between 1999-2000 and 2016-2017) temporal patterns of taxonomic and functional β- diversity (and its components of substitution and gain/loss) of dung beetle assemblages in forest fragments and pastures in the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve (LTBR). Habitat type affected the taxonomic dissimilarity and the richness difference component, with average values being respectively 1.42 and 1.56 times higher in pastures than in forest fragments. Only habitat type was important for functional richness, being 1.93 and 1.69 higher in forest fragments than pastures in 1999-2000 and 2016-2017, respectively. Pastures were taxonomically and functionally poorer but were also more temporally dynamic than forest fragments both within-year and between-years. Habitat type is a determining factor for temporal dynamics, with forest fragments presenting more stable dung beetle assemblages than cattle pastures.

Spatial distribution of saproxylic beetles on trunks of standing Scots pine trees

Abstract The spatial distribution of saproxylic beetles landing and climbing stems of 12 grown and healthy Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris L.) was examined in detail during a 3‐year trial. The beetles were sampled using sticky traps attached to the tree trunk at three tree parts (i.e., the trunk base, middle part of the trunk, and trunk in crown). Each tree part was sampled using two sticky traps facing opposite cardinal directions (north and south). In total, 4063 individuals representing 169 taxa of saproxylic beetles were yielded in the 1405 obtained samples. Remarkable interstrata diversification of saproxylic beetle assemblages reflecting distribution of breeding substrates in the forest stand was observed. Overall, species richness decreased considerably from the trunk base to the crown, with intermediate values for the middle part of the trunk. However, the abundance of mycetophages and saproxylophages decreased from the trunk base to the crown, with xylophages being the most abundant in the tree crown. The cardinal direction exhibited overall weak effects on abundance, species richness, and composition, but the occurrence of a few particular species was significantly associated with the south (13 species) or north (3 species) facing part of the trunk. Our results suggest that primary attraction and random landing strategies are combined during the substrate selection by many species. High variability in the importance of the studied explanatory variables was observed among taxa, which shows how the species composition recorded in any study might alter its general outcomes.

Biodiversity in landscape mosaics: The roles of local land use and the surrounding landscape on dung beetle assemblages

Abstract Biotic communities in heterogeneous agricultural landscapes can be shaped by both the land use of local patches and the structure of surrounding landscapes. However, studies usually focus on one or the other factor, limiting our ability to propose management guidelines for the conservation of biodiversity in human‐modified landscapes. We used a site‐landscape design and multi‐model inference to assess the effects of land use, landscape structure, and their interactions, on dung beetle assemblages in agricultural landscapes in the Brazilian Cerrado, a biodiversity hotspot. We captured dung beetles in five dominant land uses (savanna, forest, eucalypt, cattle pasture and soybean) and estimated species density, abundance of large and small beetles, and functional richness and dispersion. We measured four landscape structure predictors (savanna cover, forest cover, landscape compositional heterogeneity, and matrix harshness) in circular landscapes around sampling plots. All response variables were affected by land use and by at least one landscape predictor. Relationships between landscape predictors and dung beetle responses were as expected (positive for forest and savanna covers and negative for matrix harshness), except landscape compositional heterogeneity, which had unexpected negative effects. More importantly, land use and landscape predictors interacted in two cases: higher forest cover and lower matrix harshness were related to higher species density and large‐beetle abundance, respectively, but this was mainly observed in eucalypt. Synthesis and applications: To better guide the conservation of mobile organisms in anthropogenic habitat mosaics, we need to consider both landscape characteristics and the land use of local patches. Using this approach, we are able to make some recommendations for the conservation of dung beetles in agricultural landscapes in Cerrado, including the following: (i) ensure, through protection and/or restoration, that natural vegetation patches (even small ones) are interspersed in the agricultural matrix, to increase functional diversity in all land uses and taxonomic diversity in tree plantations, (ii) place eucalypt plantations near forest patches to increase the abundance of sensitive species (forest‐specialists, and some large species); (iii) replace some patches of pasture or soybean with tree plantations, to increase the amount of supplementary habitat for sensitive species.

Spatio-temporal variation of dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) assemblages in a community ecological reserve of southeastern Mexico

Despite the relevance of community ecological reserves, little is known about changes in spatio-temporal biodiversity patterns in these reserves. Here, we analyzed the spatio-temporal dynamics of the dung beetle assemblages in 4 different environments (primary forest, riparian vegetation, secondary forest, and pasture) in the Bajlum Pakal Community Ecological Reserve, in Chiapas, Mexico. We found that the spatial dynamics showed differences among the analyzed environments, with higher diversity in the tropical rainforest and riparian vegetation. The temporal dynamics did not present a relationship with the richness and diversity of species; therefore, spatial dynamics were more important for explaining the diversity of beetles from all environments. When evaluating the spatial turnover, we found that the most important component of β diversity was β2 (between environments), which suggests that the environmental variation provided by the great spatial heterogeneity of the environments modulates the diversity patterns of beetles in this reserve. Conservation strategies must consider changes in the spatio-temporal dynamics that modulate species assemblages to determine their responses to changes in land use. It is important to maintain the existence of community ecological reserves that conserve biodiversity and connectivity in tropical landscapes, as well as the quality of life of its inhabitants.

Tropical savanna conversion to exotic pastures negatively affects taxonomic and functional diversity of dung beetle assemblages, but not dung removal

Abstract1. The replacement of natural systems with agricultural lands is the main factor resulting in land use change in tropical regions. Tropical savannas cover more than 20% of the global land surface, and one‐fifth of the world's population depends directly on these systems.2. Here, we aim to understand how the conversion of tropical savanna into exotic pastures affects the taxonomic and functional metrics of communities and dung removal, using dung beetles as a focal group in a biodiversity hotspot—the Brazilian Cerrado biome. We used species richness, abundance, total biomass, and species composition as assemblage metrics, and functional richness, equitability and dispersion indices, and functional composition as functional diversity metrics.3. The replacement of native savanna with exotic pastures negatively affected taxonomic and functional metrics, suggesting a simplified system where some disturbance‐tolerant species become dominant. However, the relationship between dung removal and functional richness was higher in pastures compared to savanna.4. Our results demonstrated that responses of dung beetle assemblages and dung removal to land use changes are decoupled, idiosyncratic and context‐dependent, presenting challenges for making predictions and generalisations about the effects of land use change on ecological processes mediated by animals.

Biodiversity in landscape mosaics: the roles of local land use and the surrounding landscape on dung beetle assemblages

Biodiversity in landscape mosaics: the roles of local land use and the surrounding landscape on dung beetle assemblages