The dung beetle fauna in two vegetation types near Punda Maria, Kruger National Park, South Africa

Dung beetles have been proposed as potential bio-indicators for other invertebrates. To be effective bio-indicators, the group must exhibit sensitivity to environmental changes. We sampled the dung beetle fauna in two vegetation types near Punda Maria Camp in Kruger National Park over a two-day period in September 2010. Baited pitfall traps were used to collect dung beetle samples. We measured dung type and density, sampled soil and conducted vegetation surveys at our study sites. A total of 431 dung beetle specimens composed of seven species were collected. Species richness and the distributions of individual species differed between different vegetation and soil types. Our results suggest that dung beetle faunas differ with vegetation type and soil conditions. The family does seem to exhibit the habitat sensitivity required of a bio-indicator.