Open AccessAltitudinal effects on habitat selection of dung beetles (Scarabaeoidea: Aphodiidae) in the northern Iberian peninsula
Author(s) -
Menéndez Rosa,
Gutiérrez David
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
ecography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.973
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1600-0587
pISSN - 0906-7590
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0587.1996.tb01259.x
Subject(s) - scarabaeoidea , altitude (triangle) , species richness , ecology , vegetation (pathology) , abundance (ecology) , habitat , vegetation type , dung beetle , pasture , geography , grassland , scarabaeidae , biology , medicine , geometry , mathematics , pathology
The effects or vegetation cover on the abundance and species richness of dung beetles (Aphodiidae) were examined in three altitudinal zones: lowland (520–600 m), mid‐altitude (950–963 m) and highland (1230–1275 m). Pitfall traps baited with fresh cattle dung were placed in three vegetation types at each altitudinal zone: forest, heathland and pasture. Species richness was lower in forests than in the other vegetation types. The total abundance of beetles also varied with vegetation type, but the effect was dependent on altitude. Number of individuals was higher in pasture at highlands and in heathland and forest at mid‐altitude and lowlands. An altitudinal dependence of distribution of individuals between vegetation types was also found for the more abundant species in the study area. These results could be explained if the local distribution of individuals between vegetation types was determined by microcli‐matic factors, mainly temperature. Differences in altitude between sites are associated with temperature changes, determining the habitat selection of species at each altitude.