Effects of habitat types on dung beetle (coleoptera: scarabaeinae) community structure in a protected area of central belize

Dung beetles are detritivorous insects that predominantly feeds on mammal dung. Through their feeding behavior they perform important ecological services. Due to their sensitivity to changes in the physical and biotic factors in a habitat, they are considered as important biological indicators to document effects of habitat change on biodiversity, especially mammal diversity and abundance. Dung beetle community structure in habitats of Belize is poorly known. Dung beetle community structure across three habitats of Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (MBWS), Belize was studied. Community structure attributes such as species richness, abundance and diversity were studied across a lowland savanna (LS), lowland broadleaf forest (LBLF) and riparian forest (RF). LBLF had the highest community attributes such as Simpson’s index of diversity (1-D), Shannon diversity Index (H), Margalef richness index and Fishers alpha diversity. Tunneler guild and small beetles dominated the assemblage in MBWS. Canthidium ardens abundant and recorded only from LS preferred open habitats such as savanna. Onthophagus maya, O. yucatanus, O. crinitus panamensis and Scatimus ovatus abundant and present only in forest habitats preferred closed habitats such as forests. O. cyclographus equally abundant in LS and LBLF was a generalist species with respect to habitat preference. The study proves that LBLF with its complex vegetation structure supports more faunal diversity with respect to mammals and dung beetles than LS and RF. LBLF is the largest habitat type in Belize and the most threatened with respect to habitat conversion. Therefore, it is important to protect our LBLF, as conversion of such forests can negatively impact biodiversity.