Diversity characteristics of dung beetle of Seirphidium semidesert and its secondary distribution of seeds in the feces

doi:10.11686/cyxb2020296

Abstract

Abstract:

Seriphidium semidesert grassland provides important spring and autumn pasture for sheep grazing in Xinjiang Province in China. The activities of dung beetles provide a mechanism of seed dispersal， which is of great significance for the restoration of grassland vegetation. The objectives of this study were to explore the horizontal and vertical displacement distances of seeds of different sizes in dung， resulting from the activities of dung beetles and to determine the seasonal changes in species diversity characteristics of dung beetles in the Seriphidium semidesert grassland. A total of 14797 dung-eating insects were captured， belonging to 17 species and 3 families， among which there were 9 species from the family Aphodiidae， 7 species of the family Scarabaeidae， 1 species of the family Geotrupidae. Diversity analysis demonstrated that the species richness index was highest in June at which time the dominant species is Aphodius impunctatus， whilethe largest number of individuals occurred in October at which time the dominant species is A. rectus. Observation of dung beetle behavior in June and October showed that in June the number of dung beetles reached a peak 8 hours after dung placement and in October 4 hours after dung placement. Over time after dung placement， the number of feces-eating insects entering the dung， and the degree of dung decomposition progressively increased. The distribution of seeds in dung by dung beetles depends on the size of the seeds. Three sizes of beads， small （1.3 mm）， medium （3.6 mm）， and large （5.8 mm）， were used as artificial seeds to evaluate seed movement by dung beetles. It was found that about 80% of the artificial seeds were buried within a horizontal distance of 20 cm and to a soil depth in the range of 0-10 cm. Conversely， 20% of the seed simulants were moved beyond a horizontal range of 20 cm or buried below 10 cm by dung beetles. With larger-sized artificial seeds， the proportion that were buried decreased. The results of the study showed that the secondary dispersal by dung beetles of seeds in feces contributes to the ecological restoration of the Seriphidium semidesert grassland.

Key words: Seirphidium semidesert, dung beetle, seed buried, secondary dispersal

Jia-min CAO, Ya-ya GUO, Na-na LI, Hai-rong SUN, Zhao-bi CHE, Wei-hua LU. Diversity characteristics of dung beetle of Seirphidium semidesert and its secondary distribution of seeds in the feces[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2021, 30(8): 137-145.

Figures/Tables 6

References 30

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指标 Index	4月 April	5月 May	6月 June	7月 July	8月 August	9月 September	10月 October
dMa	1.5985	2.1709	3.0926	1.9650	1.5966	0.7501	0.2378
D	0.8890	0.8808	0.9017	0.7840	0.6810	0.1221	0.0009
H'	2.0351	2.3930	2.6355	1.7979	1.4207	0.2871	0.0042
J	0.7934	0.8279	0.8293	0.6810	0.5925	0.1475	0.0038

指标 Index	4月 April	5月 May	6月 June	7月 July	8月 August	9月 September	10月 October
dMa	1.5985	2.1709	3.0926	1.9650	1.5966	0.7501	0.2378
D	0.8890	0.8808	0.9017	0.7840	0.6810	0.1221	0.0009
H'	2.0351	2.3930	2.6355	1.7979	1.4207	0.2871	0.0042
J	0.7934	0.8279	0.8293	0.6810	0.5925	0.1475	0.0038

月份 Month	粪便放置 Duration of dung （h）	拜访方式 Visit method	种类 Species	累计数量 Cumulative quality	粪便状态 Dung status
6	0			0	新鲜粪便质地为稀糊黏稠状，青绿色。为长27 cm宽23 cm厚5.3 cm的椭球形。The texture of fresh feces is squishy and viscous， green. It is an ellipsoid with a length of 27 cm and a width of 23 cm and a thickness of 5.3 cm.
	0.5	飞入、爬入 Fly in， crawl in	粪金龟 G.laeristriatus	12	粪便表面形成一层薄壳，有缝隙。颜色呈土黄色间褐色，粪便形状不变。A thin shell is formed on the surface of the feces with gaps. The color is khaki brown，and the shape of feces remains unchanged.
	4	飞入、爬入 Fly in， crawl in	粗纹弯边蜣螂 G.flayellates	20	粪便表面薄壳面积不断增大，有缝隙中的粪便依旧湿润，粪便形状不变。The area of the thin shell on the fecal surface is increasing， the feces in the crevices are still moist， and the shape of the feces remains unchanged.
	6	飞入、爬入 Fly in， crawl in	小驼嗡蜣螂 O. gibbulus	26	粪表面形成硬壳，缝隙周围逐渐干燥，粪便颜色加深。A hard crust is formed on the surface of the feces， and the crevices are gradually dried， and the color of the feces becomes darker.
	8	飞入、爬入 Fly in， crawl in	三开蜣螂，红亮蜉金龟 C. tripartitus，A.impuncatus	100+	粪便表面形成硬壳，缝隙增大。颜色呈黑褐色，粪便边缘破碎化长30 cm宽26 cm中心厚度不变。A hard crust is formed on the surface of the feces， and the gaps are enlarged. The color is dark brown， and the edges of the feces are broken 30 cm long and 26 cm wide and the center thickness remains unchanged.
	24	爬出 Crawl out	粗纹弯边蜣螂，粪金龟 G. flayellates，G. laeristriatus	40+	粪便全干，板结成块有贯穿的大大小小的洞。粪便旁有小堆土，是粪金龟拱出的。The feces are completely dry， clumped into blocks with large and small holes running through. There is a small pile of soil next to the excrement， which is arched out by the dung beetle.
	48	飞离Fly away	红亮蜉金龟 A.impunctatus	0	粪便呈自然风干状态，翻开粪便，下方地面有虫洞。The excrement is in a natural air-dried stat， open the excrement， there is a hole in the ground below.
10	0			0	粪便为椭球形，表面湿润，长29 cm宽18 cm厚度4 cm。The stool is ellipsoid with a most surface， 29 cm long and 18 cm wide and 4 cm thick.
	0.5	飞入、爬入 Fly in， crawl in	直蜉金龟 A. rectus	600+	粪便表面开始分散，孔隙变大。The surface o the feces begins to scatter and the pores become larger.
	2	飞入、爬入 Fly in， Crawl in	直蜉金龟 A. rectus	1500+	表面略有板结的粪便开始分解成块。Slightly compacted feces began to break down into pieces.
	4	飞入、爬入 Fly in， crawl in	直蜉金龟 A. rectus	2800+	粪便由椭球形变成近圆形，长70 cm宽50 cm厚度1.4 cm。The stool changes from an ellipsoid to a nearly round shape， with a length of 70 cm and a width of 50 cm and a thickness of 1.4 cm.
	6	飞入、爬入 Fly in， crawl in	直蜉金龟 A. rectus	1600+	粪便近干，完全破碎化。可见明显的草茎。粪便面积仍在扩大，长73 cm宽65 cm厚度1.1 cm。The stool is nearly dry and completely broken. Obvious grass stems can be seen. The area of feces is still expanding， with a length of 73 cm and a width of 65 cm and a thickness of 1.1 cm.
	8	飞入、爬入 Fly in， crawl in	直蜉金龟 A. rectus	1100+	粪便完全摊开，长80 cm宽69 cm厚度为0.9 cm。至此粪便面积不再扩大。The feces are completely spread out， with a length of 80 cm and a width of 69 cm and a thickness of 0.9 cm. So far， the area of feces no longer expand.
	23	飞离Fly away	直蜉金龟A. rectus	0	粪便与表面土壤混在一起。Manure is mixed with surface soil.

月份 Month	粪便放置 Duration of dung （h）	拜访方式 Visit method	种类 Species	累计数量 Cumulative quality	粪便状态 Dung status
6	0			0	新鲜粪便质地为稀糊黏稠状，青绿色。为长27 cm宽23 cm厚5.3 cm的椭球形。The texture of fresh feces is squishy and viscous， green. It is an ellipsoid with a length of 27 cm and a width of 23 cm and a thickness of 5.3 cm.
	0.5	飞入、爬入 Fly in， crawl in	粪金龟 G.laeristriatus	12	粪便表面形成一层薄壳，有缝隙。颜色呈土黄色间褐色，粪便形状不变。A thin shell is formed on the surface of the feces with gaps. The color is khaki brown，and the shape of feces remains unchanged.
	4	飞入、爬入 Fly in， crawl in	粗纹弯边蜣螂 G.flayellates	20	粪便表面薄壳面积不断增大，有缝隙中的粪便依旧湿润，粪便形状不变。The area of the thin shell on the fecal surface is increasing， the feces in the crevices are still moist， and the shape of the feces remains unchanged.
	6	飞入、爬入 Fly in， crawl in	小驼嗡蜣螂 O. gibbulus	26	粪表面形成硬壳，缝隙周围逐渐干燥，粪便颜色加深。A hard crust is formed on the surface of the feces， and the crevices are gradually dried， and the color of the feces becomes darker.
	8	飞入、爬入 Fly in， crawl in	三开蜣螂，红亮蜉金龟 C. tripartitus，A.impuncatus	100+	粪便表面形成硬壳，缝隙增大。颜色呈黑褐色，粪便边缘破碎化长30 cm宽26 cm中心厚度不变。A hard crust is formed on the surface of the feces， and the gaps are enlarged. The color is dark brown， and the edges of the feces are broken 30 cm long and 26 cm wide and the center thickness remains unchanged.
	24	爬出 Crawl out	粗纹弯边蜣螂，粪金龟 G. flayellates，G. laeristriatus	40+	粪便全干，板结成块有贯穿的大大小小的洞。粪便旁有小堆土，是粪金龟拱出的。The feces are completely dry， clumped into blocks with large and small holes running through. There is a small pile of soil next to the excrement， which is arched out by the dung beetle.
	48	飞离Fly away	红亮蜉金龟 A.impunctatus	0	粪便呈自然风干状态，翻开粪便，下方地面有虫洞。The excrement is in a natural air-dried stat， open the excrement， there is a hole in the ground below.
10	0			0	粪便为椭球形，表面湿润，长29 cm宽18 cm厚度4 cm。The stool is ellipsoid with a most surface， 29 cm long and 18 cm wide and 4 cm thick.
	0.5	飞入、爬入 Fly in， crawl in	直蜉金龟 A. rectus	600+	粪便表面开始分散，孔隙变大。The surface o the feces begins to scatter and the pores become larger.
	2	飞入、爬入 Fly in， Crawl in	直蜉金龟 A. rectus	1500+	表面略有板结的粪便开始分解成块。Slightly compacted feces began to break down into pieces.
	4	飞入、爬入 Fly in， crawl in	直蜉金龟 A. rectus	2800+	粪便由椭球形变成近圆形，长70 cm宽50 cm厚度1.4 cm。The stool changes from an ellipsoid to a nearly round shape， with a length of 70 cm and a width of 50 cm and a thickness of 1.4 cm.
	6	飞入、爬入 Fly in， crawl in	直蜉金龟 A. rectus	1600+	粪便近干，完全破碎化。可见明显的草茎。粪便面积仍在扩大，长73 cm宽65 cm厚度1.1 cm。The stool is nearly dry and completely broken. Obvious grass stems can be seen. The area of feces is still expanding， with a length of 73 cm and a width of 65 cm and a thickness of 1.1 cm.
	8	飞入、爬入 Fly in， crawl in	直蜉金龟 A. rectus	1100+	粪便完全摊开，长80 cm宽69 cm厚度为0.9 cm。至此粪便面积不再扩大。The feces are completely spread out， with a length of 80 cm and a width of 69 cm and a thickness of 0.9 cm. So far， the area of feces no longer expand.
	23	飞离Fly away	直蜉金龟A. rectus	0	粪便与表面土壤混在一起。Manure is mixed with surface soil.