The Impact of Eucalyptus and Pine Plantations on the Taxonomic and Functional Diversity of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in the Southern Region of Ecuador.

ABSTRACT: This study sheds light on the complex relationship between land use, biodiversity, and the functional traits of dung beetles in Ecuador. The results indicate that the richness and abundance of dung beetles vary across different land uses and regions, with forests generally having a positive impact, while eucalyptus and pine plantations have a negative effect in certain areas. Specific indicator species, such as Homocopris buckleyi for forest areas and Onthophagus curvicornis for eucalyptus plantations, were identified. This study also found that functional diversity analysis, based on morphological traits, revealed that certain traits, such as biomass, pronotum width, head width, and elytra length, were significant contributors to differences in dung beetle communities across

SUBMITTER: Sanmartin-Vivar K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11504286 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature