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Possible Indirect Effects of Mammal Hunting on Dung Beetle Assemblages in Panama
Author(s) -
Andresen Ellen,
Laurance Susan G. W.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
biotropica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1744-7429
pISSN - 0006-3606
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2006.00239.x
Subject(s) - panama , ecology , mammal , dung beetle , scarabaeinae , rainforest , geography , rarefaction (ecology) , ecosystem , taxon , biology , species richness , scarabaeidae
Hunting often impacts rain forest mammal communities but little is known about its indirect effects on other taxa. We examined dung beetle assemblages using pitfall and flight‐intercept traps at six rain forest sites in Panama that ranged in hunting intensity. Heavily hunted sites showed altered community composition, significantly fewer species (based on rarefaction), and lower abundances of dung beetles than did sites with little hunting. Our results suggest that intensive hunting affects nontarget forest taxa and is potentially altering ecosystem functioning.