Silvopastoral systems as an alternative for conservation of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) in a cattle landscape in Caucasia Colombia

Abstract

Silvopastoral systems (SPS) represent an alternative to the environmental impact and biodiversity decline caused by extensive livestock practices. We evaluate the transformation of a conventional pasture parcel into a SPS, and how it alters the diversity of dung beetles, fundamental organisms in these ecosystems. Transects with pitfall traps, baited with excrement were established in SPS, pasture, and forest ecosystems. Differences in the structure of communities were compared through Whittaker curves, the incidence of functional groups, and non-parametric multidimensional scaling. The completeness of the sampling was estimated and the magnitude of change in qD diversity of the SPS concerning pasture and forest ecosystem was calculated for each season. A total of 7446 beetles belonging to twelve genera, fifteen species, and seven morphospecies were collected. The SPS was the environment with the greatest diversity of qD and functional groups after the forest ecosystem. It was more diverse than pasture, 30 % to 50 % richer in species and 10 % to 50 % more diverse in 1D and 2D. It is concluded that the conversion of the conventional pastures to SPS led to changes in the composition and structure of the beetle community, making the SPS a more diverse environment than the pasture in all seasons including the dry one, when conditions are the most adverse. These results suggest that the implementation of SPS is an important measure to preserve and increase the diversity of forest dung beetles in the livestock areas of the country.