Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature 65

The response of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) to environmental stress correlates with nesting behaviour — an Australian study

Citation

Ebert, K.M., Cully, S & Monteith, G.B. (2024). The response of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) to environmental stress correlates with nesting behaviour — an Australian study. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature 65: 8-21. https://doi.org/10.17082/j.2204-1478.65.2024.2023-05 

Accepted

13 February 2024

Published online

20 March 2024

Peer reviewed

Yes

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17082/j.2204-1478.65.2024.2023-05

Keywords

drought, fire, telecoprid, paracoprid, rainforest, wet sclerophyll, eucalyptus woodland, ecosystem services.

Abstract 

Environmental stressors such as drought and fire can have detrimental effects on an ecosystem and its biodiversity. While invertebrates are an integral part of any ecosystem, there is limited data on how invertebrate populations are affected by environmental stressors, and how different species respond. This study surveyed dung beetle populations in Lamington National Park, south-east Queensland, Australia, that were affected by three years of drought, followed by bushfires in late 2019. Dung beetles were surveyed one year post-fire (2020–21) and the data were compared to data collected from an earlier dung beetle survey conducted in the same area in 2012–14 after a period of significant above-average rainfall. Changes to dung beetle abundance and community composition were observed in three different vegetation communities, even at sites that were not affected by fire. Several roller species (telecoprids) declined or were lost, while several tunnelling species (paracoprids) did not change or increased, suggesting that Australian rollers are less tolerant to drought and related environmental stressors.