Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) and dung removal in Mexican livestock pastures
In the present article, a summary and analysis of literature published in Mexico on the removal and burial of dung by dung beetles, a primary function that represents an ecosystem service of great importance for livestock production, is presented. Studies from distinct ecosystems are examined, empha...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
2018-11-01
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| Series: | Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad |
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| Online Access: | https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/2495 |
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| author | Carmen Huerta Lucrecia Arellano Magdalena Cruz |
| author_facet | Carmen Huerta Lucrecia Arellano Magdalena Cruz |
| author_sort | Carmen Huerta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the present article, a summary and analysis of literature published in Mexico on the removal and burial of dung by dung beetles, a primary function that represents an ecosystem service of great importance for livestock production, is presented. Studies from distinct ecosystems are examined, emphasizing the findings in livestock pastures with active grazing in several different states of Mexico. In addition, the unpublished results of the authors obtained in pastures across an altitudinal gradient in central Veracruz are presented for a dung exposure time of 24 hours. No significant differences were found in species richness among sites. However, differences were found in the dung removal rate; higher values were found at the sites with higher elevation and lower values at sites with lower elevation. The species with the highest biomass included the 3 largest species and small but very abundant species. Nocturnal tunnelers reincorporated the largest quantity of dung over the first 24 hours; in contrast, rollers only removed dung at the lowest areas of the gradient (< 250 m asl). However, much more information is still required regarding the capacity of the different functional groups and dung beetle species for dung burial in the livestock production zones of Mexico. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1619c24c7b4845b2bceaa4f7b937f330 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1870-3453 2007-8706 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad |
| spelling | doaj-art-1619c24c7b4845b2bceaa4f7b937f3302025-08-20T02:31:18ZengUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoRevista Mexicana de Biodiversidad1870-34532007-87062018-11-0189410.22201/ib.20078706e.2018.4.2495Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) and dung removal in Mexican livestock pasturesCarmen Huerta0Lucrecia Arellano1Magdalena Cruz2Instituto de Ecología A.C.Instituto de Ecología A.C.Instituto de EcologíaIn the present article, a summary and analysis of literature published in Mexico on the removal and burial of dung by dung beetles, a primary function that represents an ecosystem service of great importance for livestock production, is presented. Studies from distinct ecosystems are examined, emphasizing the findings in livestock pastures with active grazing in several different states of Mexico. In addition, the unpublished results of the authors obtained in pastures across an altitudinal gradient in central Veracruz are presented for a dung exposure time of 24 hours. No significant differences were found in species richness among sites. However, differences were found in the dung removal rate; higher values were found at the sites with higher elevation and lower values at sites with lower elevation. The species with the highest biomass included the 3 largest species and small but very abundant species. Nocturnal tunnelers reincorporated the largest quantity of dung over the first 24 hours; in contrast, rollers only removed dung at the lowest areas of the gradient (< 250 m asl). However, much more information is still required regarding the capacity of the different functional groups and dung beetle species for dung burial in the livestock production zones of Mexico.https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/2495TunnelersRollersDwellersWaste degradationRelocationEcosystem services |
| spellingShingle | Carmen Huerta Lucrecia Arellano Magdalena Cruz Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) and dung removal in Mexican livestock pastures Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad Tunnelers Rollers Dwellers Waste degradation Relocation Ecosystem services |
| title | Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) and dung removal in Mexican livestock pastures |
| title_full | Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) and dung removal in Mexican livestock pastures |
| title_fullStr | Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) and dung removal in Mexican livestock pastures |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) and dung removal in Mexican livestock pastures |
| title_short | Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) and dung removal in Mexican livestock pastures |
| title_sort | dung beetles coleoptera scarabaeidae scarabaeinae and dung removal in mexican livestock pastures |
| topic | Tunnelers Rollers Dwellers Waste degradation Relocation Ecosystem services |
| url | https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/2495 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT carmenhuerta dungbeetlescoleopterascarabaeidaescarabaeinaeanddungremovalinmexicanlivestockpastures AT lucreciaarellano dungbeetlescoleopterascarabaeidaescarabaeinaeanddungremovalinmexicanlivestockpastures AT magdalenacruz dungbeetlescoleopterascarabaeidaescarabaeinaeanddungremovalinmexicanlivestockpastures |