Degradation of cattle dung by dung beetles in tropical grassland in Veracruz, Mexico
Coleoptera Coprophagous Nutrient recycling Dung pats Dummy variables
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The involvement of dung beetles on the dung degradation in a tropical pasture during the rainy and dry seasons was studied. The dung weight loss was evaluated with two treatments: dung covered with mesh (BT) and uncovered dung (BD). Thirty 2-kg dung pats were randomly placed on pasture in BT-BD pairs. Observations of the status and dung weight were made at each season at 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 days, and the abundance and diversity of dung beetles were recorded. Euoniticellus intermedius, Digitonthophagus gazella and Copris lugubris were abundant in the first week in BD. The effect of treatment and time on the weight of dung was analyzed with a multiple linear regression model. The model allowed to calculated differences of weight loss between treatments and between times, and to determinate the time needed to have 80% of weight lost. Dung pats lost weight at a greater rate for the BD as compared to the BT treatment in both seasons. The weight loss of BT and BD both were higher and faster in the rainy season; in one month BD lost weight 92% and 67% for the BT units. In one month of the dry season BD lost 73% of their weight, while BT units lost 58%. In the rainy season 80% of dung weight loss was reached in 3 days for BD, and the same loss in 17 days for BT. In the dry season 80% of the dung weight was lost in 17 and 56 days for BD and BT respectively.
CRUZ R., M., MARTÍNEZ M., I., LÓPEZ-COLLADO, J., VARGAS-MENDOZA, M., GONZÁLEZ-HERNÁNDEZ, H., & PLATAS-ROSADO, D. E. (2012). Degradation of cattle dung by dung beetles in tropical grassland in Veracruz, Mexico. Revista Colombiana De Entomología, 38(1), 148–155. https://doi.org/10.25100/socolen.v38i1.8976
AARONS, S. R.; O’CONNOR, C. R.; GOURLEY, C. J. P. 2004. Dung decomposition in temperate dairy pastures I. Changes in soil chemical properties. Australian Journal of Soil Research 42: 107-114.
ANDERSON, J. R.; MERRITT, R. W.; LOOMIS, E. C. 1984. The insect-free cattle dropping and its relationship to increased dung fouling of rangeland pastures. Journal of Economic Entomology. 77: 133-141.
ANDUAGA, S.; HUERTA, C. 2007. Importance of dung incorporation activity by three species of coprophagous beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) macrofauna in pastureland on “La Michilia” Biosphere Reserve in Durango, Mexico. Environmental Entomology 36 (3): 555-559.
BARTH, D.; HEINZE-MUTZ, E. M.; RONCALLI, R. A.; SCHLüTER, D; GROSS, S. J. 1993. The degradation of dung produced by cattle treated with an ivermectin slow-release bolus. Veterinary Parasitology 48: 215-227.
CAMPO, J.; MAASS, J. M.; DE PABLO, L. 2001. Intemperismo en un bosque tropical seco de México. Agrociencia (México) 35 (2): 245-254.
CHIRICO, J.; WIKTELIUS, S.; WALLER, P. J. 2003. Dung beetle activity and the development of trichostrongylid eggs into infective larvae in cattle faeces. Veterinary Parasitology 118: 157- 163.
CORWIN, R. M. 1997. Economics of gastrointestinal parasitism of cattle. Veterinary Parasitology 72: 451-460.
DICKINSON, C. H.; UNDERHAY, V. S. H.; ROSS, V. 1981. Effect of season, soil fauna and water content on the decomposition of cattle dung pats. The New Phytologist 88 (1): 129-141.
DOUBE, B. M.; MACqUEEN, A.; FAY, H. A. C. 1988. Effects of dung fauna on survival and size of buffalo flies (Haematobia spp.) breeding in the field in South Africa and Australia. Journal of Applied Ecology 25 (2): 523-536.
FERRAR, P. 1975. Disintegration of dung pads in north queensland before the introduction of exotic dung beetles. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 15: 325-329.
FINCHER, G. T. 1981. The potential value of dung beetles in pasture ecosystems. Journal of Georgia Entomological Society 16 (1): 316-333.
FINCHER, G. T.; MONSON, W. G.; BURTON, G. W. 1981. Effects of cattle feces rapidly buried by dung beetles on yield and quality of coastal bermudagrass. Agronomy Journal 73: 775-779.
FINCHER, G. T.; STEWART, T. B.; HUNTER, J. S. III. 1983. The 1981 distribution of Onthophagus gazella Fabricius from releases in Texas and Onthophagus taurus Schreber from an unknown release in Florida (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 37 (2): 159-163.
FREYMANN, B. P.; BUITENWERF, R.; DESOUZA, O.; OLFF, H. 2008. The importance of termites (Isoptera) for the recycling of herbivore dung in tropical ecosystems: a review. European Journal of Entomology 105: 165-173.
GARCÍA, E. 1981. Modificaciones al sistema de clasificación climática de Köppen. Instituto de Geografía de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. 3a Ed. México. 252 p.
GILLET, F.; KOHLER, F.; VANDENBERGHE, C.; BUTTLER, A. 2010. Effect of dung deposition on small-scale patch structure and seasonal vegetation dynamics in mountain pastures. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 135: 34-41.
GITTINGS, T.; GILLER, P. S.; STAKELUM, G. 1994. Dung decomposition in contrasting temperate pastures in relation to dung beetle and earthworm activity. Pedobiologia 38: 455- 474.
HALFFTER, G.; FAVILA, M. E.; HALFFTER, V. 1992. A comparative study of the structure of the scarab guild in Mexican Tropical rain forest and derived ecosystems. Folia Entomológica Mexicana 84: 131-156.
HANSKI, I.; CAMBEFORT, Y. (Ed.). 1991. Dung beetle ecology. Princeton University Press, Oxford, UK. 481 p.
HERRICK, J. E.; LAL, R. 1996. Dung decomposition and pedoturbation in a seasonally dry tropical pasture. Biology and Fertility of Soils 23: 177-181.
HIRATA, M.; SUGIMOTO, Y.; UENO, M. 1988. Effects of cattle dung deposition on energy and matter flows in Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) pasture. I. Changes in sward height and consumed herbage as related to rate of dung disappearance. Journal of Japanese Grassland Science 33 (4): 371-386.
HUGHES, R. D. 1975. Introduced dung beetles and Australian pasture ecosystems. Journal of Applied Ecology 12 (3): 819-837.
IGLESIAS, L. E.; SAUMELL, S. A.; FERNÁNDEZ, A. S.; FUSÉ, L. A.; LIFSCHITZ, A. L.; RODRÍGUEZ, E. M.; STEFFAN, P. E.; FIEL, C. A. 2006. Environmental impact of ivermectin excreted by cattle treated in autumn on dung fauna and degradation of faeces on pasture. Parasitology Research 100: 93-102.
INEGI (Instituto de Estadística Geografía e Informática) 2000. Anuario Estadístico del Estado de Veracruz. Tomo I. Gobierno del Estado de Veracruz – INEGI. México, 432 p.
KARAFIATH, I. 1988. Using dummy variables in the event methodology. Financial Review 23 (3): 351-357.
KRUGER, K.; SCHOLTZ, C. H.; REINHARDT, K. 1998. Effect of the pyrethroid flumethrin on colonization and degradation of cattle dung by adult insect. South African Journal of Science 94 (3): 129-133.
LOBO, J. M.; VEIGA, C. M. 1990. Interés ecológico y económico de la fauna coprófaga en pastos de uso ganadero. Ecología (España) 4: 313-331.
LOSEY, J. E.; VAUGHAN, M. 2006. The economic value of ecological services provided by Insects. Bioscience 56 (4): 311-323. LUCK, R. F.; SHEPARD, B. M.; KENMORE, P. E. 1988. Experimental methods for evaluating arthropod natural enemies. Annual Review of Entomology 33: 367-391.
LUMARET, J. P. 1995. Desiccation rate of excrement: a selective pressure on dung beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea). pp. 105-118. In: Roy, J.; Aronson, J.; Di Castri, F. (Eds.). Time scales of biological responses to water constraints. SPB Academic Publishing, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 243 p.
LUMARET, J. P.; KADIRI, N. 1995. The influence of the first wave of colonizing insects on cattle dung dispersal. Pedobiologia 39: 406-517.
MADSEN, M.: OVERGAARD-NIELSEN, B.; HOLTER, P. 1990. Treating cattle with ivermectin: effects on the fauna and decomposition of dung pats. Journal of Applied Ecology 27: 1-15. MARTÍN-PIERA, F.; LOBO, J. M. 1993. Altitudinal distribution patterns of copro-necrophage Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera) in Veracruz, México. The Coleopterists Bulletin 47 (4): 321-334.
MATTHIESSEN, J. N.; HALL, J. P.; CHEWINGS, V. H. 1986. Seasonal abundance of Musca vetustissina Walker and other cattle dung fauna in Central Australia. Journal of Australian Entomology Society 25: 141-147.
MIRANDA, C. H. B.; DO NASCIMENTO, Y. A.; BIANCHIN, A. 1990. Desenvolvimento de um programa entregado de controle dos nematódeos e a mosca-dos-chifres na região dos cerrados. Fase 3. Potencial de Onthophagus gazella no enterrio de fezes bovinas. EMBRAPA-gado de corte, Pesquisa em Andamento, (Brasil) 42: 1-5.
MONTES DE OCA, E. 2001. Escarabajos coprófagos de un escenario ganadero típico de la región de los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, México: importancia del paisaje en la composición de un gremio funcional. Acta Zoológica Mexicana (n.s) 82: 111-132.
MONTES DE OCA, E.; HALFFTER, G. 1995. Daily and seasonal activities of a guild of the coprophagous, burrowing beetle (Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae) in tropical grassland. Tropical Zoology 8: 159-180.
MONTES DE OCA, E.; HALFFTER, G. 1998. Invasion of Mexico by two dung beetles previously introduced into the Unites States. Studies of Neotropical Fauna y Environment 33: 37-45. NAVARRO, I. L.; ROMÁN, K. A.; GÓMEZ, H. F.; PÉREZ, A. H. 2009. Primer registro de DigithOnthophagus gazella (Fabricius, 1787) para el departamento de Sucre, Colombia. Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Animales 1: 60-64.
NICHOLS, E.; SPECTOR, S.; LOUZADA, J.; LARSEN, T.; AMEZqUITA, S.; FAVILA, M. E. 2008. Ecological functions and ecosystem services provided by Scarabaeinae dung beetles. Biology of Conservation 141: 1461-1474.
O’HEA, N. M.; KIRWAN, L.; FINN, J. A. 2010. Experimental mixtures of dung fauna effect dung decomposition through complex effects of species interactions. Oikos 119: 1081-1088.
OMALIKO, C. P. E. 1981. Dung deposition, breakdown and grazing behavior of beef cattle at two seasons in a tropical grassland ecosystem. Journal of Range Management 34: 360-362.
RIPA, R.S.; ROJAS, P.S.; VELAZCO, G. 1995. Releases of biological control agents of insects pests on East Island (Pacific Ocean). Entomophaga 40 (3/4): 427-440.
SAS INSTITUTE. 2004. SAS/STAT® 9.1 User’s Guide. SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina, USA. 5136 p.
WARDHAUGH, K. G. 2005. Insecticidal activity of synthetic pyrethroids, organophosphates, insect growth regulators, and other livestock parasiticides: an Australian perspective. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 24 (4): 789-796.
YAMADA, D.; IMURA, O.; SHI, K.; SHIBUYA, T. 2007. Effect of tunneler dung beetles on cattle dung decomposition, soil nutrients and herbage growth. Grassland Science 53: 121-129.
ZUNINO, M.; BARBERO, E. 1993. Escarabajos, ganado, pastizales: algunas consideraciones deontológicas. Folia Entomológica Mexicana 87: 95-101.
ANDERSON, J. R.; MERRITT, R. W.; LOOMIS, E. C. 1984. The insect-free cattle dropping and its relationship to increased dung fouling of rangeland pastures. Journal of Economic Entomology. 77: 133-141.
ANDUAGA, S.; HUERTA, C. 2007. Importance of dung incorporation activity by three species of coprophagous beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) macrofauna in pastureland on “La Michilia” Biosphere Reserve in Durango, Mexico. Environmental Entomology 36 (3): 555-559.
BARTH, D.; HEINZE-MUTZ, E. M.; RONCALLI, R. A.; SCHLüTER, D; GROSS, S. J. 1993. The degradation of dung produced by cattle treated with an ivermectin slow-release bolus. Veterinary Parasitology 48: 215-227.
CAMPO, J.; MAASS, J. M.; DE PABLO, L. 2001. Intemperismo en un bosque tropical seco de México. Agrociencia (México) 35 (2): 245-254.
CHIRICO, J.; WIKTELIUS, S.; WALLER, P. J. 2003. Dung beetle activity and the development of trichostrongylid eggs into infective larvae in cattle faeces. Veterinary Parasitology 118: 157- 163.
CORWIN, R. M. 1997. Economics of gastrointestinal parasitism of cattle. Veterinary Parasitology 72: 451-460.
DICKINSON, C. H.; UNDERHAY, V. S. H.; ROSS, V. 1981. Effect of season, soil fauna and water content on the decomposition of cattle dung pats. The New Phytologist 88 (1): 129-141.
DOUBE, B. M.; MACqUEEN, A.; FAY, H. A. C. 1988. Effects of dung fauna on survival and size of buffalo flies (Haematobia spp.) breeding in the field in South Africa and Australia. Journal of Applied Ecology 25 (2): 523-536.
FERRAR, P. 1975. Disintegration of dung pads in north queensland before the introduction of exotic dung beetles. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 15: 325-329.
FINCHER, G. T. 1981. The potential value of dung beetles in pasture ecosystems. Journal of Georgia Entomological Society 16 (1): 316-333.
FINCHER, G. T.; MONSON, W. G.; BURTON, G. W. 1981. Effects of cattle feces rapidly buried by dung beetles on yield and quality of coastal bermudagrass. Agronomy Journal 73: 775-779.
FINCHER, G. T.; STEWART, T. B.; HUNTER, J. S. III. 1983. The 1981 distribution of Onthophagus gazella Fabricius from releases in Texas and Onthophagus taurus Schreber from an unknown release in Florida (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 37 (2): 159-163.
FREYMANN, B. P.; BUITENWERF, R.; DESOUZA, O.; OLFF, H. 2008. The importance of termites (Isoptera) for the recycling of herbivore dung in tropical ecosystems: a review. European Journal of Entomology 105: 165-173.
GARCÍA, E. 1981. Modificaciones al sistema de clasificación climática de Köppen. Instituto de Geografía de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. 3a Ed. México. 252 p.
GILLET, F.; KOHLER, F.; VANDENBERGHE, C.; BUTTLER, A. 2010. Effect of dung deposition on small-scale patch structure and seasonal vegetation dynamics in mountain pastures. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 135: 34-41.
GITTINGS, T.; GILLER, P. S.; STAKELUM, G. 1994. Dung decomposition in contrasting temperate pastures in relation to dung beetle and earthworm activity. Pedobiologia 38: 455- 474.
HALFFTER, G.; FAVILA, M. E.; HALFFTER, V. 1992. A comparative study of the structure of the scarab guild in Mexican Tropical rain forest and derived ecosystems. Folia Entomológica Mexicana 84: 131-156.
HANSKI, I.; CAMBEFORT, Y. (Ed.). 1991. Dung beetle ecology. Princeton University Press, Oxford, UK. 481 p.
HERRICK, J. E.; LAL, R. 1996. Dung decomposition and pedoturbation in a seasonally dry tropical pasture. Biology and Fertility of Soils 23: 177-181.
HIRATA, M.; SUGIMOTO, Y.; UENO, M. 1988. Effects of cattle dung deposition on energy and matter flows in Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) pasture. I. Changes in sward height and consumed herbage as related to rate of dung disappearance. Journal of Japanese Grassland Science 33 (4): 371-386.
HUGHES, R. D. 1975. Introduced dung beetles and Australian pasture ecosystems. Journal of Applied Ecology 12 (3): 819-837.
IGLESIAS, L. E.; SAUMELL, S. A.; FERNÁNDEZ, A. S.; FUSÉ, L. A.; LIFSCHITZ, A. L.; RODRÍGUEZ, E. M.; STEFFAN, P. E.; FIEL, C. A. 2006. Environmental impact of ivermectin excreted by cattle treated in autumn on dung fauna and degradation of faeces on pasture. Parasitology Research 100: 93-102.
INEGI (Instituto de Estadística Geografía e Informática) 2000. Anuario Estadístico del Estado de Veracruz. Tomo I. Gobierno del Estado de Veracruz – INEGI. México, 432 p.
KARAFIATH, I. 1988. Using dummy variables in the event methodology. Financial Review 23 (3): 351-357.
KRUGER, K.; SCHOLTZ, C. H.; REINHARDT, K. 1998. Effect of the pyrethroid flumethrin on colonization and degradation of cattle dung by adult insect. South African Journal of Science 94 (3): 129-133.
LOBO, J. M.; VEIGA, C. M. 1990. Interés ecológico y económico de la fauna coprófaga en pastos de uso ganadero. Ecología (España) 4: 313-331.
LOSEY, J. E.; VAUGHAN, M. 2006. The economic value of ecological services provided by Insects. Bioscience 56 (4): 311-323. LUCK, R. F.; SHEPARD, B. M.; KENMORE, P. E. 1988. Experimental methods for evaluating arthropod natural enemies. Annual Review of Entomology 33: 367-391.
LUMARET, J. P. 1995. Desiccation rate of excrement: a selective pressure on dung beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea). pp. 105-118. In: Roy, J.; Aronson, J.; Di Castri, F. (Eds.). Time scales of biological responses to water constraints. SPB Academic Publishing, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 243 p.
LUMARET, J. P.; KADIRI, N. 1995. The influence of the first wave of colonizing insects on cattle dung dispersal. Pedobiologia 39: 406-517.
MADSEN, M.: OVERGAARD-NIELSEN, B.; HOLTER, P. 1990. Treating cattle with ivermectin: effects on the fauna and decomposition of dung pats. Journal of Applied Ecology 27: 1-15. MARTÍN-PIERA, F.; LOBO, J. M. 1993. Altitudinal distribution patterns of copro-necrophage Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera) in Veracruz, México. The Coleopterists Bulletin 47 (4): 321-334.
MATTHIESSEN, J. N.; HALL, J. P.; CHEWINGS, V. H. 1986. Seasonal abundance of Musca vetustissina Walker and other cattle dung fauna in Central Australia. Journal of Australian Entomology Society 25: 141-147.
MIRANDA, C. H. B.; DO NASCIMENTO, Y. A.; BIANCHIN, A. 1990. Desenvolvimento de um programa entregado de controle dos nematódeos e a mosca-dos-chifres na região dos cerrados. Fase 3. Potencial de Onthophagus gazella no enterrio de fezes bovinas. EMBRAPA-gado de corte, Pesquisa em Andamento, (Brasil) 42: 1-5.
MONTES DE OCA, E. 2001. Escarabajos coprófagos de un escenario ganadero típico de la región de los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, México: importancia del paisaje en la composición de un gremio funcional. Acta Zoológica Mexicana (n.s) 82: 111-132.
MONTES DE OCA, E.; HALFFTER, G. 1995. Daily and seasonal activities of a guild of the coprophagous, burrowing beetle (Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae) in tropical grassland. Tropical Zoology 8: 159-180.
MONTES DE OCA, E.; HALFFTER, G. 1998. Invasion of Mexico by two dung beetles previously introduced into the Unites States. Studies of Neotropical Fauna y Environment 33: 37-45. NAVARRO, I. L.; ROMÁN, K. A.; GÓMEZ, H. F.; PÉREZ, A. H. 2009. Primer registro de DigithOnthophagus gazella (Fabricius, 1787) para el departamento de Sucre, Colombia. Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Animales 1: 60-64.
NICHOLS, E.; SPECTOR, S.; LOUZADA, J.; LARSEN, T.; AMEZqUITA, S.; FAVILA, M. E. 2008. Ecological functions and ecosystem services provided by Scarabaeinae dung beetles. Biology of Conservation 141: 1461-1474.
O’HEA, N. M.; KIRWAN, L.; FINN, J. A. 2010. Experimental mixtures of dung fauna effect dung decomposition through complex effects of species interactions. Oikos 119: 1081-1088.
OMALIKO, C. P. E. 1981. Dung deposition, breakdown and grazing behavior of beef cattle at two seasons in a tropical grassland ecosystem. Journal of Range Management 34: 360-362.
RIPA, R.S.; ROJAS, P.S.; VELAZCO, G. 1995. Releases of biological control agents of insects pests on East Island (Pacific Ocean). Entomophaga 40 (3/4): 427-440.
SAS INSTITUTE. 2004. SAS/STAT® 9.1 User’s Guide. SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina, USA. 5136 p.
WARDHAUGH, K. G. 2005. Insecticidal activity of synthetic pyrethroids, organophosphates, insect growth regulators, and other livestock parasiticides: an Australian perspective. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 24 (4): 789-796.
YAMADA, D.; IMURA, O.; SHI, K.; SHIBUYA, T. 2007. Effect of tunneler dung beetles on cattle dung decomposition, soil nutrients and herbage growth. Grassland Science 53: 121-129.
ZUNINO, M.; BARBERO, E. 1993. Escarabajos, ganado, pastizales: algunas consideraciones deontológicas. Folia Entomológica Mexicana 87: 95-101.
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