Dung decomposition and secondary seed dispersal by dung beetles

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Within the research unit "Reassembly of species interaction networks", the subprojet "Dung decomposition and secondary seed dispersal by dung beetles" focuses on tritrophic networks between plant seeds, mammals and dung beetles. Dung beetles will be monitored in all plots along the forest recovery chronosequence, and the mammalian DNA contained in the beetles' gut contents will be analysed to construct trophic mammal - beetle networks. Species-specific dung traits such as volatiles and nutrients will be characterized and related to the beetles' preferences among mammal species using traps with synthetic compounds. We will additionally compare the distribution of beetle species across a broad spectrum of beetle diets (dung, carrion, rotten fruit and millipedes) and their temporal activity pattern during day and night. An experiment on dung burial rate and secondary seed dispersal will help to quantify the beetles' contribution to seed dispersal kernels and their responses to perturbation. The fate of seeds is expected to differ depending on seed size and other traits in relation to dung beetle characteristics. Functional traits of beetles, dung and seeds will be related to the structure of tritrophic networks and their dynamics in recovering forests.