Seasonality, Distribution, and Diversity of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae, Aphodiinae and Geotrupidae: Geotrupinae) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA

Dung beetle communities in Great Smoky Mountains National Park exhibit significant variation in diversity and abundance based on elevation, season, and habitat type. Research revealed that low-elevation areas host more diverse dung beetle populations compared to high-elevation zones, which are dominated by non-native species. Population peaks were observed in late summer across both elevations. The study used pitfall traps baited with cattle dung, deployed biweekly from April to September 2017, to quantify these patterns. This research highlights the ecological differences in dung beetle assemblages along elevational gradients and underscores the impact of non-native species on high-elevation communities.

Mamantov, M. A., & Sheldon, K. S. (2023). Seasonality, Distribution, and Diversity of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae, Aphodiinae and Geotrupidae: Geotrupinae) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA. The Coleopterists Bulletin, 77(3). https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065x-77.3.285