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Deforestation and biodiversity: effects of bushland cultivation on dung beetles in semi-arid Tanzania

Biodiversity and Conservation volume 16, pages 2753–2769 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Dung beetles provide important ecosystem services in the habitats where they occur. The activity of dung beetles enhances soil nutrient cycling and increases the soil’s ability to absorb and hold water. Consequently, these beetles are particularly important in semi-arid environments. This study analyses the importance of remaining wooded habitat patches (bushland) for the survival of a diverse dung beetle fauna in an otherwise cultivated landscape in semi-arid Tanzania. Dung beetles were sampled by pitfall trapping in maize fields and bushland habitats. In total, 6037 dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), representing 77 species from 25 genera, were collected. Many species, particularly amongst the ball-rollers, showed a clear preference for wooded patches, species richness being significantly higher in the bushland patches than in the cultivated sites. The number of trapped specimens in bushland was also considerably higher than that found in maize fields, although the differences were not significant. In conclusion, bushland fragments appear to have an important conservation value as to maintaining a high diversity and abundance of dung beetles, thereby enhancing the ecosystem services provided by these beneficial insects.

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Acknowledgements

I wish, first of all, to thank Peter Holter, University of Copenhagen, for help with dung beetle identification and for advice and encouragement. I am indebted to all the people on the PETREA project and the people of Majawanga village who patiently helped me in every possible way—‘Mzungu kicha’. I am grateful for useful comments from friends and colleagues, which greatly improved the manuscript. A grant from Danida’s Council for Development Research made the travel and field work possible.

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  1. Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Institute of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 2D, Copenhagen, 1353, Denmark

    Sofie Tind Nielsen

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Correspondence to Sofie Tind Nielsen.

Appendix

Appendix

Appendix Species list—The abundance of the species found in the three bushland sites, the three maize field sites and the overall totals
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Tind Nielsen, S. Deforestation and biodiversity: effects of bushland cultivation on dung beetles in semi-arid Tanzania. Biodivers Conserv 16, 2753–2769 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-007-9213-3

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Keywords

  • Anthropogenic disturbance
  • Biodiversity
  • Dung beetles
  • Habitat degradation
  • Scarabaeidae
  • Semi-arid
  • Tanzania

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