Efectos del uso del suelo sobre la diversidad taxonómica de los escarabajos coprófagos (Scarabaeinae: Scarabaeidae; Coleóptera) en el cantón Santa Rosa, provincia de El Oro al sur del Ecuador

Abstract

Abstract: This research evaluates how land use influences the taxonomic diversity of dung beetles (Scarabaeinae: Scarabaeidae) in the Santa Rosa canton, El Oro province, Ecuador. Three representative land cover types were selected: a banana plantation, a cacao plantation, and an area adjacent to the La Tembladera wetland. Sampling was conducted using pitfall traps baited with dung, distributed along transects in each habitat. Multiple invertebrate species were collected, although dung beetles were absent from the cacao plantation. The analyses revealed marked differences between land uses: the wetland exhibited the greatest richness and evenness, while the banana plantation showed dominance of a single morphospecies. These results demonstrate the sensitivity of Scarabaeinae to anthropogenic disturbance and confirm their value as bioindicators of environmental quality. The study provides relevant information for biodiversity conservation and the sustainable management of agricultural landscapes in tropical areas.