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Prescribed Fire Effects on Rangeland Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae, Aphodiinae) in the Southern Great Plains
Author
Smith, B.W.
Dabbert, B.C.
Verble, R.M.
Publisher
Elsevier Inc.
Publication Year
2019-01
Body

Rangeland dung beetles represent an important assemblage of insects for the Great Plains. In this study, we examine the effects of a postfire rangeland environment on a dung beetle assemblage in north-central Texas. We deployed baited pitfall traps to examine spring prescribed fire treatment, differences in vegetation visual obstruction, and dung density influence on dung beetle abundance and community composition. Using model-based multivariate methods, we did not find an influence of prescribed burning on the dung beetle assemblage. We report a negative influence of vegetation visual obstruction and no significant influence of dung density on dung beetle assemblages. These results suggest that prescribed fire may not negatively affect dung beetle species within the North American Great Plains; however, vegetation structure correlated to postfire rangeland environments may influence local beetle abundance. © 2018 Elsevier Inc.

Language
en
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1016/j.rama.2018.07.003
Additional Information
Britt W. Smith, Brad C. Dabbert, and Robin M. Verble "Prescribed Fire Effects on Rangeland Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae, Aphodiinae) in the Southern Great Plains," Rangeland Ecology and Management 72(1), 120-125, (10 June 2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2018.07.003
ISSN
1550-7424
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/675924
Journal Volume
72
Journal Number
1
Journal Pages
120-125
Collection
Rangeland Ecology & Management (REM)
Journal Name
Rangeland Ecology & Management
Keywords
arthropods
Canthon
disturbance
nutrient cycling
Texas
wildland fire