Dung beetle assemblage changes along a chronosequence in a recovering tropical dry forest.

ABSTRACT: Tropical dry forests are among the most threatened ecosystems globally, facing extensive degradation from land-use change. Understanding how biodiversity responds during forest regeneration is critical for conservation and sustainable land management. We assessed the community composition and functional diversity of dung beetles (Scarabaeinae) across a forest recovery chronosequence (1-100 years) in the Yucatán Peninsula. The study area is characterized by traditional Mayan agroforestry systems that shape the landscape. 90 pitfall traps were set up across six forest age classes and were collected 6,605 individuals from 23 species and 13 genera. Dung beetle species richness, biomass, and abundance were significantly associated with forest structural, and diversity metrics. Forest Shannon en

SUBMITTER: Leon J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12677776 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature