Diversity and composition of dung beetle (Scarabaeinae) assemblages in a heterogeneous Andean landscape

In a montane region of Colombia, the diversity and composition of the dung beetle (Scarabaeinae) assemblages were sampled and analyzed in natural and antbropogenic habitats: primary forest, secondary forest, pasture and cropland. The total number of species per habitat was similar (between 10 species in cropland and 13 in secondary forest). Inventory completeness was over 90%, except for cropland where over 82% of the true species richness was recorded. Greater numbers of species and individuals were found in primary forest than in secondary forest and pasture. Fifty-five percent of all individuals were captured in cropland where the number of species was similar to that recorded for secondary forest. Species turnover was highest between primary forest and cropland (of 18 species, 4 were present in both). Primary and secondary forest had the lowest turnover of species (of 14, 11 species present in both). Guild distribution depended on habitat type: in primary and secondary forest, the most common species were nocturnal tunnelers, while in pasture and cropland, there were more diurnal species of various habits. These results support the idea that regeneration areas and certain land use systems can mitigate the detrimental effects that clearing the original vegetation has on biodiversity.