Efectos del uso del suelo sobre la diversidad funcional de los escarabajos coprófagos (Scarabaeinae: Scarabaeidae: Coleoptera) en la Ciudad de Loja

Abstract

Abstract: The purpose of this research is to determine the importance of dung beetles as bioindicators of soil quality through taxonomic and functional diversity. The study was conducted in the city of Loja, sampling beetles in three land uses (native forest, pine plantation, and eucalyptus plantation). 1,445 individuals were collected, distributed across three uses. Richness was determined to be similar across the three uses, but the pine plantation showed greater abundance and dominance compared to the forest and eucalyptus, which exhibit medium diversity and dominance. The species present in all three uses and in greatest numbers is Uroxys sp2, and the species Ateuchus aenomicans was only present in the forest. Likewise, the principal component analysis (PCA): PW, Ptl, reveals a correlation in the morphological traits of the species across the three uses. By confirming that secondary forests could be considered biodiversity refuges, this effect of land use on abundance allows dung beetles to be considered good indicators of a habitat's conservation status.