Gut microbiota variability in dung beetles: prokaryotes vary according to the phylogeny of the host species while fungi vary according to the diet.

ABSTRACT: Dung beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea) support several ecological processes and services making them important ecosystem engineers. The dung beetle gut microbiota is involved in many of these ecological services. In the present study, we analyzed the microbiota of 90 individuals of three Onthophagus species feeding on different dung types. Our aim was to understand whether the species identity affected the microbiota more than the dung ingested and whether this conditioning applied equally to prokaryotes and fungi. We also compared the taxonomic and functional variability of the microorganisms to check for similarities between individuals. Using molecular analyses, we characterized the alpha and beta diversities, core and indicator taxa and taxonomic and functional composition of

SUBMITTER: Natta G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12405213 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature