Metagenomics reveals that dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) broadly feed on reptile dung. Did they also feed on that of dinosaurs?
The origin of the dung-feeding habits in dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) is debatable. According to traditional views, the evolution of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) and their feeding habits are largely attributed to mammal dung. In this paper, we challenge this view and provide ev...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.1132729/full |
| _version_ | 1797859390857936896 |
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| author | Fernando Lopes Michele Rossini Federica Losacco Giulio Montanaro Nicole Gunter Sergei Tarasov |
| author_facet | Fernando Lopes Michele Rossini Federica Losacco Giulio Montanaro Nicole Gunter Sergei Tarasov |
| author_sort | Fernando Lopes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The origin of the dung-feeding habits in dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) is debatable. According to traditional views, the evolution of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) and their feeding habits are largely attributed to mammal dung. In this paper, we challenge this view and provide evidence that many dung beetle communities are actually attracted to the dung of reptiles and birds (= Sauropsida). In turn, this indicates that sauropsid dung may have played a crucial evolutionary role that was previously underestimated. We argue that it is physiologically realistic to consider that coprophagy in dung beetles could have evolved during the Cretaceous in response to the dung produced by dinosaurs. Furthermore, we demonstrate that sauropsid dung may be one of the major factors driving the emergence of insular dung beetle communities across the globe. We support our findings with amplicon-metagenomic analyses, field observations, and meta-analysis of the published literature. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:29:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e34302782046481da9268709134988fb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:29:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-e34302782046481da9268709134988fb2023-03-27T12:01:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2023-03-011110.3389/fevo.2023.11327291132729Metagenomics reveals that dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) broadly feed on reptile dung. Did they also feed on that of dinosaurs?Fernando Lopes0Michele Rossini1Federica Losacco2Giulio Montanaro3Nicole Gunter4Sergei Tarasov5Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandFinnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandFinnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandFinnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandThe Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, OH, United StatesFinnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandThe origin of the dung-feeding habits in dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) is debatable. According to traditional views, the evolution of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) and their feeding habits are largely attributed to mammal dung. In this paper, we challenge this view and provide evidence that many dung beetle communities are actually attracted to the dung of reptiles and birds (= Sauropsida). In turn, this indicates that sauropsid dung may have played a crucial evolutionary role that was previously underestimated. We argue that it is physiologically realistic to consider that coprophagy in dung beetles could have evolved during the Cretaceous in response to the dung produced by dinosaurs. Furthermore, we demonstrate that sauropsid dung may be one of the major factors driving the emergence of insular dung beetle communities across the globe. We support our findings with amplicon-metagenomic analyses, field observations, and meta-analysis of the published literature.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.1132729/fullMadagascarMascarenesmetabarcodingsauropsidsexcrementinsects |
| spellingShingle | Fernando Lopes Michele Rossini Federica Losacco Giulio Montanaro Nicole Gunter Sergei Tarasov Metagenomics reveals that dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) broadly feed on reptile dung. Did they also feed on that of dinosaurs? Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Madagascar Mascarenes metabarcoding sauropsids excrement insects |
| title | Metagenomics reveals that dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) broadly feed on reptile dung. Did they also feed on that of dinosaurs? |
| title_full | Metagenomics reveals that dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) broadly feed on reptile dung. Did they also feed on that of dinosaurs? |
| title_fullStr | Metagenomics reveals that dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) broadly feed on reptile dung. Did they also feed on that of dinosaurs? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Metagenomics reveals that dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) broadly feed on reptile dung. Did they also feed on that of dinosaurs? |
| title_short | Metagenomics reveals that dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) broadly feed on reptile dung. Did they also feed on that of dinosaurs? |
| title_sort | metagenomics reveals that dung beetles coleoptera scarabaeinae broadly feed on reptile dung did they also feed on that of dinosaurs |
| topic | Madagascar Mascarenes metabarcoding sauropsids excrement insects |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.1132729/full |
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