title: [Effects of different soil and water loss control measures on the dung beetle assemblages in Huangfuchuan watershed, Inner Mongolia of North China].
abstract: By using pitfall trap method, and taking the croplands and natural grasslands under different soil and water loss control measures as sampling plots, an investigation was conducted on the dung beetle assemblages in the Huangfuchuan watershed of Inner Mongolia from September 2007 to September 2008, aimed to understand the effects of different soil and water loss control measures on the dung beetle assemblages in the watershed. A total of 6169 dung beetles were captured, belonging to 15 species, 5 genus, and 2 families. The dominant species were Aphodius rectus and Onthophagus gibbulus, accounting for 66. 54% and 13. 26% of the total captured beetles, respectively. A lack of the species suitable for living in woodland habitats was the basic feature of the dung beetle assemblages. As compared with the control, all test soil and water loss control measures did not cause an obvious increase of species richness, biomass, and abundance of the dung beetle assemblages. The biomass and species richness of the assemblages as well as the abundance of the functional groups II and III had a significant negative correlation with the average tree (grass) height. Under the effects of long-term agricultural cultivation and the lack of large herbivores, the species richness and abundance of the functional group I (larger paracoprids and telocoprids) were lower than those of the functional groups II (relatively smaller paracoprids) and II (endocoprids), the main components of the dung beetle assemblages in the watershed. The faeces of the residents and livestock in the study region provided abundant foods for the dung beetle assemblages, inducing the relatively high abundance and spices richness of the assemblages occurred in the croplands nearby the villages. Our results suggested that natural grasslands were the suitable habitats for the dung beetles in Huangfuchuan watershed. At regional scale, to popularize the successful experiences of comprehensive soil and water loss control, preserve natural grasslands, and feed appropriate number of livestock (especially larger herbivores) could be the effective approaches for maintaining the diversity of dung beetles and the ecosystem functions.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beging 100101, China. piglight_326@163.com
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Run-Run
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xin-Min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000254:growth & development; D017753:Ecosystem; D005243:Feces; D006109:Poaceae / Q000254:growth & development; D011156:Population Density; D045483:Rivers; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D014867:Water