Livestock grazing impact differently on the functional diversity of dung beetles depending on the regional context in subtropical forests
Abstract The replacement of native forest by cattle pastures reduces functional diversity; however, little is known about whether the changes depend on regional variation. Dung beetles are one of the most diverse and functionally important taxa; through organic matter burial, dung beetles improve so...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-05616-x |
| _version_ | 1798023855993782272 |
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| author | Celeste B. Guerra Alonso Gustavo A. Zurita M. Isabel Bellocq |
| author_facet | Celeste B. Guerra Alonso Gustavo A. Zurita M. Isabel Bellocq |
| author_sort | Celeste B. Guerra Alonso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The replacement of native forest by cattle pastures reduces functional diversity; however, little is known about whether the changes depend on regional variation. Dung beetles are one of the most diverse and functionally important taxa; through organic matter burial, dung beetles improve soil quality. We collected dung beetles in native forests and cattle ranching areas in subtropical forests with contrasting climatic conditions: the Atlantic Forest, the Humid Chaco, and the Dry Chaco. We measured 11 traits related to the ecology and the physiology of species. Irrespectively of the region, functional richness was higher in forests (native and with cattle) when compared to open pastures. Humid forests (Atlantic Forest and Humid Chaco) showed higher functional richness than Dry Chaco. Functional dispersion in humid forests was similar between native forest and livestock systems, however, functional dispersion in the Dry Chaco was higher in open pastures compared to native forest. According to our results, native forests and forests with cattle maintain functional diversity in all regions. However, in the case of open pastures, the response depends on the regional context; the replacement of native forest by open pastures strongly affected functional diversity in humid forests and showed less impact on dry forest. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T17:53:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7aa6cfbf49704add8f14551e05a33498 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T17:53:18Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-7aa6cfbf49704add8f14551e05a334982022-12-22T04:10:59ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-01-0112111110.1038/s41598-022-05616-xLivestock grazing impact differently on the functional diversity of dung beetles depending on the regional context in subtropical forestsCeleste B. Guerra Alonso0Gustavo A. Zurita1M. Isabel Bellocq2Instituto de Biología Subtropical, Universidad Nacional de Misiones-CONICETFacultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones-CONICETDepartamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos AiresAbstract The replacement of native forest by cattle pastures reduces functional diversity; however, little is known about whether the changes depend on regional variation. Dung beetles are one of the most diverse and functionally important taxa; through organic matter burial, dung beetles improve soil quality. We collected dung beetles in native forests and cattle ranching areas in subtropical forests with contrasting climatic conditions: the Atlantic Forest, the Humid Chaco, and the Dry Chaco. We measured 11 traits related to the ecology and the physiology of species. Irrespectively of the region, functional richness was higher in forests (native and with cattle) when compared to open pastures. Humid forests (Atlantic Forest and Humid Chaco) showed higher functional richness than Dry Chaco. Functional dispersion in humid forests was similar between native forest and livestock systems, however, functional dispersion in the Dry Chaco was higher in open pastures compared to native forest. According to our results, native forests and forests with cattle maintain functional diversity in all regions. However, in the case of open pastures, the response depends on the regional context; the replacement of native forest by open pastures strongly affected functional diversity in humid forests and showed less impact on dry forest.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-05616-x |
| spellingShingle | Celeste B. Guerra Alonso Gustavo A. Zurita M. Isabel Bellocq Livestock grazing impact differently on the functional diversity of dung beetles depending on the regional context in subtropical forests Scientific Reports |
| title | Livestock grazing impact differently on the functional diversity of dung beetles depending on the regional context in subtropical forests |
| title_full | Livestock grazing impact differently on the functional diversity of dung beetles depending on the regional context in subtropical forests |
| title_fullStr | Livestock grazing impact differently on the functional diversity of dung beetles depending on the regional context in subtropical forests |
| title_full_unstemmed | Livestock grazing impact differently on the functional diversity of dung beetles depending on the regional context in subtropical forests |
| title_short | Livestock grazing impact differently on the functional diversity of dung beetles depending on the regional context in subtropical forests |
| title_sort | livestock grazing impact differently on the functional diversity of dung beetles depending on the regional context in subtropical forests |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-05616-x |
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