Forest habitat parameters influence abundance and diversity of cadaver-visiting dung beetles in Central Europe

Dung beetles (Scarabaeoidea) provide crucial ecosystem services and serve
as model organisms for various behavioural, ecological and evolutionary
studies. However, dung beetles have received little attention as consumers
of large cadavers. In this study, we trapped copronecrophagous dung
beetles on aboveground exposed piglet cadavers in 61 forest plots
distributed over three geographically distinct regions in Germany, Central
Europe. We examined the effects of land use intensity, forest stand, soil
characteristics, vascular plant diversity and climatic conditions on dung
beetle abundance, species richness and diversity. In all three regions,
dung beetles, represented mainly by the geotrupid species
Anoplotrupes stercorosus and Trypocopris vernalis, were
attracted to the cadavers. The highest beetle diversity and abundance was
found on arid sandy soils that presumably form the most suitable habitat
for the digging habits of dung beetles. Additionally, an increased
proportion of forest understory vegetation and vascular plant diversity
positively affected the species richness and diversity of the
scarabaeoids. Thus, even in warm dry monocultured forest stands exploited
for timber, we found thriving dung beetle populations when a diverse
understory was present. Therefore, forestry practices that preserve the
understory can sustain stable dung beetle populations and ensure their
important contribution to nutrient cycles.