Publication Date
2020
Document Type
Thesis
Committee Members
Thomas P. Rooney, Ph.D. (Advisor); Megan Rúa, Ph.D. (Committee Member); Katie Hossler, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Abstract
Dung beetles provide key ecological functions by degrading and recycling dung. I used experimentally-assembled communities to examine the role of species richness, community biomass, species diversity, species identity, and community composition in dung removal, using Ateuchus chrysopyge, Copris nubilosis, Onothophagus cyanellus, and Dichotomius satanas. I hypothesized: (1) that as species richness, biomass, and diversity increases within a community, dung removal increases; and (2) species are not functionally equivalent, so community composition should influence dung removal rates. As species richness, biomass, and diversity of experimentally-assembled communities increased, the proportion of dung removed also increased. Also, the four species in this study were not functionally equivalent at dung removal. Dichotomius satanas removed the most dung, even when beetle biomass was standardized. Assemblages of A. chrysopyge, D. satanas, and C. nubilosis, and of O. cyanellus, D. satanas and C. nubilosis removed the most dung. Additionally, communities containing at least one D. satanas beetle removed significantly more dung than communities without any D. satanas beetles.
Page Count
56
Department or Program
Department of Biological Sciences
Year Degree Awarded
2020
Copyright
Copyright 2020, all rights reserved. My ETD will be available under the "Fair Use" terms of copyright law.
