DUNG BEETLE ASSEMBLAGE STRUCTURE (COLEOPTERA: SCARABAEINAE) IN THREE SITES WITH DIFFERING LAND USE IN ANTIOQUIA, COLOMBIA

Andean forests are subjected to strong habitat disturbance and fragmentation due to the creating of pasture and crop monocultures, especially coffee. In addition, there is little information available concerning the ability of these forest relicts to maintain their biodiveristy. This study was condu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Actualidades biológicas 2012-01, Vol.34 (96), p.43-43
Main Authors: Noriega, Jorge Ari, Palacio, Javier M, Monroy-G, Jose D, Valencia, Edison
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coleoptera
Onthophagus
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Summary:Andean forests are subjected to strong habitat disturbance and fragmentation due to the creating of pasture and crop monocultures, especially coffee. In addition, there is little information available concerning the ability of these forest relicts to maintain their biodiveristy. This study was conducted in a coffee-ranching farm in the municipality of Tarso (Antioquia), Colombia, using dung beetles are a bioindicator group. Three inventories in three habitats were conducted, each via a transect with nine pitfall traps baited with pig feces during 48 hours. A total of 779 individuals belonging to 13 species and 7 genera were collected. Onthophagus curvicornis and Oxysternon conspicillatum were the dominant species. There were no significant differences among the habitats in terms of richness, abundance, or diversity, but they did differ in biomass. The biomass differences documented were probably a result of habitat disturbance and fragmentation, leading to the dominance of O. conspicillatum, suggesting that the presence of this species in this area will be indispensable for maintaining ecosystem functionality.
ISSN:0304-3584
2145-7166