Dung beetle diversity and species richness across three habitats in South African savannah

https://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/ugresearch/2017/biology_ecology/2/thumbnail.jpgWe examined dung beetle diversity and richness at the Wits Rural Facility in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The dung beetle community was assessed in three separate habitats: grassland, woodland, and the ecotone. For our experiment one kilogram of cow dung was placed at each of 10 locations in each habitat, with samples located 25 meters apart. This was done on two different occasions, once to measure species diversity and the other to measure species richness of the dung beetles that came to each pile. Diversity was measured by collecting one individual of each morphotype at each site. The collection of specimens was done the day the dung was put out and after 24 hours. We counted 26 different morphotypes from the two days combined. Several morphotypes were unique to the second day and were not present on the first. Species richness over time was measured by going out to the dung pile locations during different times throughout the day. We went out to view an hour after the piles were placed in the morning, four hours later at midday, and two hours after that in the early evening. We counted the number of beetles from each morphotype at each location. The number of morphotypes, and density of individuals of each morphotype, decreased over time as the dung piles decreased in volume.