The Effects of Habitat Amount,Habitat Quality and Meteorological Factors on the Species Diversity of Dung Beetles in Chengdu
Urbanization is one of the most detrimental forms of land use,frequently leading to environmental changes that result in a decline in biodiversity.Exploring the effects of environmental factors(amount of habitat,habitat quality,and meteorological factors)on the diversity of dung beetles,a key environmental indicator species,is crucial for urban biodiversity conservation.In this study,18 plots across three habitat types(woodland,shrubland,and grassland)and with varying urbanization levels(urban,suburban,and rural)were selected in Chengdu during July and September 2021.Dung beetles were captured by pitfall traps baited with rotten fish.The results showed that 1)a total of 1149 dung beetles from five genera and eight species were collected,all belonging to the same behavioral type(tunnelers)and predominantly small in size(body length<13.0 mm).Onthophagus was the dominant genus in the study area(four species,1066 individuals),with Onthophagus balthasari as the most abundant species(667 individuals).2)Regression analyses showed that both habitat amount and quality significantly influenced dung beetle species diversity,whereas meteorological factors had no significant effect.The total number of individuals was significantly and positively correlated with woodland area and shrubland area(p<0.05),species richness was significantly and positively correlated with shrubland area(p<0.05),Hill-Shannon diversity was significantly and positively correlated with shrubland area,grassland area,and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI)(p<0.05),and Hill-Shannon evenness was significantly negatively correlated with shrubland area(p<0.05).3)Based on the Akaike Information Criterion(AIC)and Variance Partitioning Analysis,the results indicated that habitat amount had the highest relative importance in explaining dung beetle diversity,with independent effects on the total number of individuals,species richness,and Hill Shannon evenness at 21.3%,17.8%,and 15.6%,respectively.In conclusion,woodlands,shrublands,grassland areas,and NDVI were key determinants of dung beetle diversity.Habitat quantity surpasses habitat quality and the meteorological factors that influence dung beetle diversity.Reasonable improvement in vegetation coverage and existing vegetation quality is an effective measure for protecting the diversity of dung beetles in urban areas.
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