Quirama-Cortes, N.A.1
Vanegas-Alarcón, D.A.1
[0000-0002-4394-1711]davidvaneal@gmail.com
Arias-Álvarez, G.A.1
[0000-0001-9990-4525]davidvaneal@gmail.com
Pulgarín-Franco, N.1
Velásquez-Arrubla, L.M.1
Cardozo-Rueda, A.1
[0000-0003-3652-5194]
García-Hernández A.L.1
[0000-0003-1670-2018]davidvaneal@gmail.com
- Grupo de Investigación Ecdysis, Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Biotecnología, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Quindío, Colombia
Abstract
The composition and structure of dung beetles were evaluated along an altitudinal gradient in the Peñas Blancas Natural Reserve, in the municipality of Calarcá, Quindío. Sampling was carried out with pitfall traps baited with pig dung–human feces (7:3). Stations were established every 100 m of altitude, between 1750 m and 2050 m. At each altitude, a linear transect was set with 30 traps spaced 50 m apart, which remained active for 48 hours. A total of 1,535 individuals were collected, distributed in 17 species and nine genera. The species Chantidium sp1 and Dichotomius allyates dominated with 435 and 288 individuals, respectively. In the sampling coverage analyses, differences in diversity were observed between the gradients of 2050 m and 1750 m, in which the 2050 m gradient presented the highest number of individuals and species. In contrast, the two intermediate gradients (1950 m–1850 m) did not show differences between them regarding diversity. Most studies with dung beetles along altitudinal gradients conclude that richness decreases as altitude increases, contrary to the pattern observed in this study. This may be attributed to the reduction of vegetation cover due to the presence of monocultures and pastures at lower altitudes, which would drive the displacement of individuals toward higher areas where forest vegetation predominates. On the other hand, it is suggested that, due to the close distance between the intermediate gradients and the wide ranges that dung beetles can travel, these altitudes did not present significant differences in diversity.