The conversion of native savannah into pasturelands does not affect exclusively species diversity: Effects on physiological condition of a highly abundant dung beetle species

Abstract

AbstractDung beetles are efficient indicators to obtain responses regarding the effects of land use change on biodiversity. Although the biological consequences of Cerrado conversion into pasture have been observed at the assemblage scale, there are no cues regarding the effects of tropical savanna conversion into pasture on physiological condition of dung beetle individuals. In this study, we evaluated whether native and non‐native habitats in Cerrado affect the physiological condition and body traits of males and females of Phanaeus palaeno. The individuals were collected from a Cerrado fragment (sensu stricto) and an exotic pasture (Urochloa spp.). Physiological condition was assessed through the estimation of individuals' dry body mass, fat mass, and muscle mass. Body traits were estimated through individual body size and males' horn length. We did not find differences between dung beetle morphological traits between Cerrado and pastures. However, individuals collected in exotic pastures had lower dry mass and fat mass, but higher muscle mass, than in conserved Cerrado. Understanding how the land use change affects individuals' body condition is essential to maintain abundant and healthy populations of dung beetles in human‐modified landscapes. Although the estimation of physiological condition is logistically more complex than species body traits, future studies aiming to present complex and finer ecological responses of dung beetles should incorporate physiological data to their approaches.