A dung beetle assemblage in an urban park in Louisiana

DOI
10.2307/20203976
Publication Year
2008
Publication Site
Southeastern Naturalist
Journal Volume
7
Page Numbers
101–110
Family
Scarabaeidae
General topic
Ecology
Specific topic
community structure
Author

Radtke, Meghan G; Carlton, Chris E; Williamson, G Bruce

Abstract Note

We examined the dynamics of a dung beetle community over the course of a year in a forested urban park in Baton Rouge, LA. Dung beetle volume per trap-day and abundance peaked during March and the months of August through November, with species richness highest during March. The subfamily Aphodiinae dominated the community during the cold months, and Scarabaeinae dominated it during the warm months. The relationship of these patterns to local temperature and precipitation is discussed.