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Article
Prescribed Fire Effects on Rangeland Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae, Aphodiinae) in the Southern Great Plains
Rangeland Ecology and Management
  • Britt W. Smith
  • Brad C. Dabbert
  • Robin M. Verble, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Abstract

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.

Department(s)
Biological Sciences
Keywords and Phrases
  • Arthropods,
  • Canthon,
  • Disturbance,
  • Nutrient Cycling,
  • Texas,
  • Wildland Fire
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2018 Society for Range Management, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
1-1-2019
Publication Date
01 Jan 2019
Disciplines
Citation 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 Vol. 72 Iss. 1 (2019) p. 120 - 125 ISSN: 1550-7424; 1551-5028
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/robin-verble/9/