The reproductive behavior of Neotropical dung beetles
Dung beetles display complex reproductive behaviors involving sexual findings, sexual recognition, fighting for mates and food used for nesting, sperm competition, and parental care. Over the past 40 years, significant advances have been made regarding the knowledge of various aspects of the sexual...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.1102477/full |
| _version_ | 1797895452025159680 |
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| author | Carmen Huerta Magdalena Cruz-Rosales Patricia González-Vainer Ivette Chamorro-Florescano José D. Rivera José D. Rivera Mario E. Favila |
| author_facet | Carmen Huerta Magdalena Cruz-Rosales Patricia González-Vainer Ivette Chamorro-Florescano José D. Rivera José D. Rivera Mario E. Favila |
| author_sort | Carmen Huerta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dung beetles display complex reproductive behaviors involving sexual findings, sexual recognition, fighting for mates and food used for nesting, sperm competition, and parental care. Over the past 40 years, significant advances have been made regarding the knowledge of various aspects of the sexual and nesting behavior of Neotropical dung beetles. However, human activities modify the natural habitats of dung beetles at an alarming rate, affecting food availability and altering the ecological functions performed by the species in their different habitats. A deeper understanding of the reproductive behavior of dung beetles may contribute significantly in understanding the evolutionary diversification of these insects and their response to environmental changes. The present study reviews and analyzes studies regarding the sexual and reproductive behavior of Neotropical dung beetle species under field and laboratory conditions. We gathered 132 studies and 146 species; 42% of the available data were based on field observations, 23% on laboratory observations, 30% under both field and laboratory conditions, and 5% unspecified. Our review detected significant knowledge, geographic, and habitat gaps regarding the reproductive behavior of Neotropical dung beetles. Based on our findings, we propose future research goals and alternative methods to measure the behavioral responses of Neotropical dung beetles to the impacts of human activities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T07:27:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ff6e21678f72484ea0ceebb51373601f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T07:27:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-ff6e21678f72484ea0ceebb51373601f2023-02-24T06:06:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2023-02-011110.3389/fevo.2023.11024771102477The reproductive behavior of Neotropical dung beetlesCarmen Huerta0Magdalena Cruz-Rosales1Patricia González-Vainer2Ivette Chamorro-Florescano3José D. Rivera4José D. Rivera5Mario E. Favila6Red de Ecoetología, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa, MexicoRed de Ecoetología, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa, MexicoSección Entomología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República Iguá, Montevideo, UruguayFacultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Veracruzana, Tuxpan, MexicoRed de Ecoetología, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa, MexicoInstituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, MexicoRed de Ecoetología, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa, MexicoDung beetles display complex reproductive behaviors involving sexual findings, sexual recognition, fighting for mates and food used for nesting, sperm competition, and parental care. Over the past 40 years, significant advances have been made regarding the knowledge of various aspects of the sexual and nesting behavior of Neotropical dung beetles. However, human activities modify the natural habitats of dung beetles at an alarming rate, affecting food availability and altering the ecological functions performed by the species in their different habitats. A deeper understanding of the reproductive behavior of dung beetles may contribute significantly in understanding the evolutionary diversification of these insects and their response to environmental changes. The present study reviews and analyzes studies regarding the sexual and reproductive behavior of Neotropical dung beetle species under field and laboratory conditions. We gathered 132 studies and 146 species; 42% of the available data were based on field observations, 23% on laboratory observations, 30% under both field and laboratory conditions, and 5% unspecified. Our review detected significant knowledge, geographic, and habitat gaps regarding the reproductive behavior of Neotropical dung beetles. Based on our findings, we propose future research goals and alternative methods to measure the behavioral responses of Neotropical dung beetles to the impacts of human activities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.1102477/fullsexual behaviorparental careNeotropicalforaging competitionScarabaeinae |
| spellingShingle | Carmen Huerta Magdalena Cruz-Rosales Patricia González-Vainer Ivette Chamorro-Florescano José D. Rivera José D. Rivera Mario E. Favila The reproductive behavior of Neotropical dung beetles Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution sexual behavior parental care Neotropical foraging competition Scarabaeinae |
| title | The reproductive behavior of Neotropical dung beetles |
| title_full | The reproductive behavior of Neotropical dung beetles |
| title_fullStr | The reproductive behavior of Neotropical dung beetles |
| title_full_unstemmed | The reproductive behavior of Neotropical dung beetles |
| title_short | The reproductive behavior of Neotropical dung beetles |
| title_sort | reproductive behavior of neotropical dung beetles |
| topic | sexual behavior parental care Neotropical foraging competition Scarabaeinae |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.1102477/full |
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