Taxonomic and functional diversity and ecosystem services provided by dung beetles (scarabaeidae: scarabaeinae): in a landscape in San Jacinto – Bolívar, Colombia

Abstract

The conservation of tropical forests requires effective measures grounded in an understanding of their diversity and the spatiotemporal dynamics of their communities. To provide useful insights toward this goal, this study used dung beetles as an indicator group to assess how seasonality and habitat modification influence taxonomic and functional diversity, as well as community structure, in a landscape located in San Jacinto, Bolívar (Colombia). Dung beetle communities were sampled across six habitat types (temporary crops, avocado plantations, pasture, secondary forest, forest edge and forest fragments) over the course of one year, encompassing three climatic periods: two wet seasons and one dry season. Taxonomic diversity, abundance, and biomass decreased progressively from the first wet season to the dry season and from forest to more disturbed habitats. Contrary to expectations, functional diversity did not show a clear response to these factors and in some cases remained high in open areas, suggesting that communities may retain functional resilience even in taxonomically simplified habitats. These results emphasize the critical role of forest fragments as biodiversity reservoirs, especially during unfavorable climatic periods. In addition, agroforestry systems such as avocado plantations and regenerating secondary forests showed potential to maintain functionally diverse communities and to facilitate connectivity in fragmented landscapes.