Efecto de las especies y edad de distintas plantaciones maderables y estructura del ensamblaje de escarabajos coprófagos (coleoptera: scarabaeidae) en fragmentos de bosque seco tropical de Bolivar, Colombia

Abstract

In this study conducted in the municipality of Zambrano, Bolívar, the influence of different timber plantations on fragments of tropical dry forest on assemblages of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) was examined. During dry season samplings in Ceiba and Melina plantations, as well as in dry forest and fallow areas, 481 individuals were collected. The tropical dry forest exhibited higher values in dominance, abundance, and richness, emphasizing its importance for the conservation of dung beetle diversity and, consequently, numerous species residing there. Diversity decreased with increasing anthropogenic disturbance in vegetation cover, identifying the tropical dry forest as the cover with the least anthropogenic disturbance. Statistical analyses highlighted the diversity of the tropical dry forest, indicating the connection between diversity and vegetation heterogeneity. Similarity patterns were observed among the six studied vegetation covers, evidencing the relationship between diversity and anthropogenic disturbance, underscoring the importance of conserving vegetation heterogeneity. Variability in dung beetle activity patterns revealed diurnal, nocturnal, and crepuscular behaviors, suggesting a strategy of competition limitation and resource optimization. Functional diversity indices indicated low functional richness but moderate functional evenness, pointing to a community resilient to environmental changes, while high functional divergence suggested adaptability and ecological efficiency. The results underscore the potential role of well-managed timber systems in conserving local diversity, concluding the importance of including assessments of functional processes and ecosystem services in these studies to strengthen conservation and forest management strategies at the regional level.