Data from: The activity of dung beetles increases foliar nutrient concentration in tropical seedlings

Dung beetles are extensively used as a focal taxon in tropical forests. Yet, information for most of their ecological functions comes from other systems. We present results from a field experiment in a tropical rainforest showing that dung beetle activity increases foliar phosphorus concentration in seedlings of the tree Brosimum lactescens. Our results open new lines of research to assess the multiple effects that dung beetles may have on rainforest plants.

蜣螂（Dung beetles）已被广泛用作热带森林研究中的焦点类群。然而，有关其多数生态功能的认知均源自其他生态系统的研究成果。本研究报道了一项热带雨林野外试验的结果，结果显示蜣螂活动可提升乔木Brosimum lactescens幼苗的叶片磷浓度。本研究结果为评估蜣螂对雨林植物的多重影响开辟了全新的研究方向。