Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 41(2) 1998

Issue:

VOL 41(2) 1998

Keywords:

Scarabaeoidea, spatial distribution, seasonal distribution, Mediterranean eco­systems, Iberian Peninsula

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Diversity of dung beetles in two Mediterranean habitats (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea)

• M. Carmen CARTAGENA
• Eduardo GALANTE

Abstract:

The spatial and seasonal distribution of dung beetles in a Mediterranean ecosys­tem of the southeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula were compared. The habitats studied were tall thorny bushes in calcareous soils (Quercus brushwood) as wooded area and dwarf shrubs in sandy soils (Sideritis-Teucrium shrub) as open area. The most important trophic resource for coprophagous beetles in these areas was sheep dung and rabbit dung pellets. Our results suggest that the distribution of dung beetles depends on habitat, and some species are specially linked to wooded or open areas.