We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Biodiversidad y variación altitudinal de los escarabajos estercoleros (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) en la cuenca del Oglán Alto, Amazonia ecuatoriana.
- Authors
Gallo-Viracocha, Freddy; Romel Chamorro, William; Enríquez, Sandra; Guasumba, Verónica; Delgado, Soraya; Araujo, Pablo; López-Iborra, Germán
- Abstract
Dung beetles are considered a useful taxon to describe and to monitor spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity. This study was carried out over 18 months, on an altitudinal gradient in the Oglán Alto watershed, located in Pastaza Province, Ecuador. A total of 10,227 individuals belonging to 59 species were collected. Food preference was analyzed and it was observed that species of coprophagous beetles are superior to necrophagous and generalists species. Tunnelers functional group was more abundant than rollers and dwellers groups. The effects of altitude and precipitation on dung beetle diversity were analyzed using generalized linear models. Six richness estimators were used for comparison between the two types of bait used (excrement and carrion). Correspondence analysis was performed, according to the types of traps and species captured, with respect to the variation of altitudinal gradient. We concluded that the richness and abundance of dung beetles are negatively influenced by altitude and precipitation. However, the group of tunnelers evidenced a positive influence on precipitation. Although the relation of altitudinal gradient and average of richness by traps is very similar in the altitudinal gradient sampled, showing a mixture of species of copronecrophagous beetles associated to Amazon lowlands, with few species of foothill evergreen forest of the Ecuadorian east. It is recommended to continue studies in this type of vegetation, mainly in a higher altitudinal gradient.
- Subjects
DUNG beetles; INFLUENCE of altitude; FUNCTIONAL groups; ANIMAL carcasses; FECES
- Publication
Acta Zoologica Lilloana, 2024, Vol 68, Issue 1, p117
- ISSN
0065-1729
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.30550/j.azl/1892