Can dung beetles from the palaeoecological and archaeological record indicate herd concentration and the identity of herbivores?
Can dung beetles from the palaeoecological and archaeological record indicate herd concentration and the identity of herbivores?
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古生态和考古记录中的粪甲虫能否表明牛群集中度和食草动物的身份？
DOI：
10.1016/j.quaint.2013.11.032
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发表时间：
2014
影响因子：
2.2
通讯作者：
Smith D
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Smith D
我们提出了两项模拟研究的结果，这些研究检查了粪甲虫种群的两个方面。首先，通过比较从邓纳姆梅西、柴郡和伦敦埃平森林的一系列小池塘中回收的现代亚化石动物群，评估了陆地动物群中粪甲虫的比例可能反映群体集中度的程度。这些研究表明，有可能利用回收的“粪甲虫”的比例来区分古昆虫学和考古昆虫学记录中的高密度和低密度放牧压力。第二项研究检查了从一系列牛科动物、鹿科动物、猪科动物和马科动物的现代粪便样本中回收的昆虫区系，这些动物群被选择尽可能地复制更新世类群。其中包括来自诺森伯兰郡著名的奇林汉姆牛群和来自肯特郡的红鹿群、野猪和科尼克马。当考虑到整个动物群中个体的数量以及甲虫的性质和范围时，就有可能区分一系列不同动物的粪便。概述了本研究的一些局限性、其影响以及此类研究的未来潜力。
We present the results from two analogue studies that examine two aspects of dung beetle populations. Firstly, the degree to which the proportions of dung beetles in terrestrial faunas may reflect herd concentration is assessed by comparing modern sub-fossil faunas retrieved from a range of small ponds at Dunham Massey, Cheshire and Epping Forest in London. These studies suggest that it may be possible to use the proportions of ‘dung beetles’ recovered to differentiate high from low density grazing pressures in the palaeoentomological and archaeoentomological record.A second study examines the insect faunas recovered from modern samples of dung from a range of bovids, cervids, suids and equids, chosen to replicate, as closely as possible, Pleistocene taxa. These include the famous Chillingham cattle herd from Northumberland and herds of red deer, wild boar and Konik horses from Kent. When the numbers of individuals and the nature and range of beetles in the whole fauna are considered, it may be possible to differentiate between the dung of a range of different animals. A number of limitations with the present study, their implications and the future potential of this type of study are outlined.