Data_Sheet_1_Metagenomics reveals that dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) broadly feed on reptile dung. Did they also feed on that of dinosaurs?.pdf

The origin of the dung-feeding habits in dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) is debatable. According to traditional views, the evolution of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) and their feeding habits are largely attributed to mammal dung. In this paper, we challenge this view and provide evidence that many dung beetle communities are actually attracted to the dung of reptiles and birds (= Sauropsida). In turn, this indicates that sauropsid dung may have played a crucial evolutionary role that was previously underestimated. We argue that it is physiologically realistic to consider that coprophagy in dung beetles could have evolved during the Cretaceous in response to the dung produced by dinosaurs. Furthermore, we demonstrate that sauropsid dung may be one of the major factors driving the emergence of insular dung beetle communities across the globe. We support our findings with amplicon-metagenomic analyses, field observations, and meta-analysis of the published literature.

牛粪食性昆虫（鞘翅目：粪金龟科）的起源尚存争议。根据传统观点，粪金龟（鞘翅目：粪金龟科）及其摄食习性之演变，在很大程度上归因于哺乳动物的粪便。然而，在本文中，我们对此观点提出质疑，并提供了证据表明，许多粪金龟群落实际上被爬行类和鸟类（=蜥形纲）的粪便所吸引。由此可知，蜥形纲动物的粪便可能在进化过程中扮演了至关重要的角色，这一作用之前被低估了。我们认为，在白垩纪期间，粪金龟的食粪行为可能是在对恐龙粪便产生的反应中演化而来的。此外，我们证明蜥形纲动物的粪便可能是驱动全球岛屿粪金龟群落出现的主要因素之一。我们通过扩增子宏基因组分析、实地观察以及已发表文献的元分析来支持我们的发现。