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Composition of dung beetle communities in a tropical montane forest alters the rate of dung removal more than species diversity alone

Engle, Elizabeth A.

Abstract Details

2020, Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, Biological Sciences.
Dung beetles provide key ecological functions by degrading and recycling dung. I used experimentally-assembled communities to examine the role of species richness, community biomass, species diversity, species identity, and community composition in dung removal, using Ateuchus chrysopyge, Copris nubilosis, Onothophagus cyanellus, and Dichotomius satanas. I hypothesized: (1) that as species richness, biomass, and diversity increases within a community, dung removal increases; and (2) species are not functionally equivalent, so community composition should influence dung removal rates. As species richness, biomass, and diversity of experimentally-assembled communities increased, the proportion of dung removed also increased. Also, the four species in this study were not functionally equivalent at dung removal. Dichotomius satanas removed the most dung, even when beetle biomass was standardized. Assemblages of A. chrysopyge, D. satanas, and C. nubilosis, and of O. cyanellus, D. satanas and C. nubilosis removed the most dung. Additionally, communities containing at least one D. satanas beetle removed significantly more dung than communities without any D. satanas beetles.
Thomas P. Rooney, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Megan RĂșa, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Katie Hossler, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
56 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Engle, E. A. (2020). Composition of dung beetle communities in a tropical montane forest alters the rate of dung removal more than species diversity alone [Master's thesis, Wright State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1597840747675602

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Engle, Elizabeth . Composition of dung beetle communities in a tropical montane forest alters the rate of dung removal more than species diversity alone. 2020. Wright State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1597840747675602.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Engle, Elizabeth . "Composition of dung beetle communities in a tropical montane forest alters the rate of dung removal more than species diversity alone." Master's thesis, Wright State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1597840747675602

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)