Diversidad de coleópteros coprófagos (SCARABAEIDAE) bajo diferentes usos del suelo y cubiertas vegetales, en la finca Fina de la parroquia Malacatos

Abstract

Abstract:The structure and composition of dung beetle communities (Scarabaeidae, Aphodiinae) were studied in a tropical dry forest (TDF) ecosystem in southern Ecuador. The different land uses were monitored along the main disturbance gradients, which included slightly intervened seasonal dry forest (SDFi) and highly anthropogenic sites (grasslands, organic crop growing and coffee plantations). Therefore, the physico-chemical properties of the soil were evaluated (bulk density, texture, pH, organic matter, C, N, P, K, C/N ratio), as well as temperature, precipitation, and altitude to associate soil compaction and fertility with diversity and distribution of the dung beetle communities. In southern Ecuador, dung beetle communities are generally represented by the following genera: Aphodius, Canthon, Dichotomius, Onoreidium, Onthophagus, and Phanaeus. However, the results indicated that in particular the genera Canthon balteatus and Dichotomius problematicus can be used as indicators for disturbance in southern Ecuador, due to their sensitivity and habitat specificity.