Diversity and composition of beetle assemblages attracted to dung in cloud forests under active and passive restoration practices

Abstract

Abstract Ecosystem loss and degradation has become a worldwide concern. The implementation of ecological restoration plans has been proposed to facilitate the recovery of ecosystems. It is imperative that once restoration strategies have been implemented, the effects of these actions in the medium and long term be evaluated, particularly the structure and functioning of the ecosystem. Diversity (α- and β-diversity) of beetles attracted to dung was assessed and compared in 3 habitat conditions (conserved forest, passive restoration, and active restoration) at 2 different seasons during the year (dry vs. rainy season) in cloud forest in San Luis Potosí (central Mexico). We found that the dry season was slightly richer than the rainy season, but the latter was significantly more diverse. Species diversity and composition in active restoration were more similar to passive restoration, and both differed greatly from the conserved forest. In contrast, conserved and passive restoration conditions exhibited similar patterns in β-diversity of insects likely because they maintain more species associated with the original vegetation of the cloud forest. Beetle assemblages could be of more habitat generalists, as they actively distribute across the restoration sites. Beetles attracted to dung provide an overview of the effect of restoration in early faunal recovery, even though we monitored this entomofauna for a short period (31 months after the restoration plots were established). These beetles can be a useful indicator for exploring the main forces driving species diversity for the management and conservation status of cloud forests, a threatened ecosystem.