Drivers of Scarabaeidae (Coleoptera) attraction: the roles of habitat diversity and bait type evaluated through EUNIS habitat classes.

Abstract

Scarabaeidae, particularly dung beetles, are saprophagous insects that underpin ecosystem functioning by facilitating dung removal, soil aeration, efficient nutrient turnover, seed dispersal, parasite suppression, and habitat restoration, while exploiting a broad dietary range from plant material to carrion. Understanding their feeding ecology and habitat-specific distributions is essential for habitat conservation and for developing effective strategies for soil rehabilitation. This study examined the influence of EUNIS habitat types and food sources on the richness, abundance, diversity, and composition of Scarabaeidae assemblages. Field sampling was conducted between May 2018 and October 2019 on the Kazan Hills, Ankara, Türkiye, using pitfall traps baited with banana, chicken liver, and cattle dung. To evaluate the effects of habitat and bait type on species assemblages, we compared richness using the Shannon–Wiener and evenness indices, assessed community similarities with Bray–Curtis (single-linkage) cluster analysis, and tested community variation through SHE analysis. Among the studied habitats, the steppe habitat (E1.2) supported the highest species richness and diversity, whereas forest plantation (G3.5) and ruderal areas (X18) exhibited the lowest values. Cattle dung proved to be the most effective attractant, yielding significantly higher numbers and species compared with other baits. These findings demonstrate the combined role of habitat characteristics and food resources in structuring Scarabaeidae communities. Our findings indicate that dung input can enhance dung beetle populations and indirectly provide a practical approach to support soil rehabilitation in degraded habitats. The quantitative data from this study serve as a reference for evaluating habitat conservation and monitoring changes in population trends at the species level. Standardized long-term monitoring is crucial for detecting population dynamics and assessing habitat changes.