•Spatial autocorrelation is assessed at ensemble and species level in dung beetles.•Hill numbers and ensemble abundance were spatially autocorrelated.•Abundance per species showed particular patterns ...of spatial autocorrelation.•Sampling methods are proposed as main drivers of spatial autocorrelation.
Spatial autocorrelation is a general property of ecological variables. Since many of the statistical methods used in ecology often assume sample independence, spatial clustering is considered a source of noise in studies related to the estimation and monitoring of biological diversity. Spatial autocorrelation was assessed herein in a Mexican Scarabaeinae dung beetle ensemble. Dung beetles where sampled using 1,240 pitfall traps baited with human feces. Response variables such as Hill numbers and abundance (number of individuals by trap) were analyzed using the Moran’s I. A total of 3,198 dung beetles were collected, belonging to 67 species. Sample coverage suggested that the dung beetle survey was close to capture the true diversity of the ensemble, providing robust statistical inferences for subsequent analyses. All the ensemble level metrics (species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity, Simpson diversity and abundance) were spatially autocorrelated. The species level analyses suggested that the number of individuals for 22 Scarabaeinae species was spatially clustered, while 33 dung beetle species were randomly distributed. Therefore, the patterns of spatial autocorrelation at ensemble level are suggested to mask the inherent patterns of autocorrelation of the individual species. Since spatial clustering in dung beetles is thought to be promoted by several dung beetle individuals co-occurring to exploit similar food resources, the bait type used to collect Scarabaeinae is proposed to have a considerable influence on the patterns of spatial autocorrelation. Consequently, trap spacing design could be irrelevant to ensure the avoidance of spatial autocorrelation in Scarabaeinae, while the use of methodologies that guarantee adequate representation of the different trophic guilds of Scarabaeinae could be of greater importance for biodiversity assessment and monitoring.
The Onthophagus mexicanus species group includes at least 18 species: O. anewtoni Howden and Génier, O. arnetti Howden and Cartwright, O. browni Howden, O. cartwrighti Howden, O. championi Bates, O. ...concinnus Castelnau, O. cynomysi Brown, O. eulophus Bates, O. guatemalensis Bates, O. hecate (Panzer), O. mcclevei Howden and Génier, O. medorensis Brown, O. mexicanus Bates, O. orpheus (Panzer), O. polyphemi Hubbard, O. pseudoguatemalensis sp. n., O. totonacus sp. n. and O. velutinus Howden and Cartwright. Onthophagus pseudoguatemalensis sp. n. and O. totonacus sp. n. are described from Mexico (Jalisco and Veracruz, respectively). Onthophagus cartwrighti, O. championi, O. eulophus and O. guatemalensis are redescribed, while lectotypes are designated herein for O. championi and O. eulophus. The distribution of O. cartwrighti is clarified; a new country record is provided for O. championi (Honduras); new state records are reported for O. championi (Oaxaca and Veracruz, Mexico) and O. guatemalensis (Oaxaca, Mexico). The accurate distribution of O. eulophus remains unknown since its original description. Updated distribution maps are included for all the species within the group. An updated determination key to species of the O. mexicanus species group is provided. The rarity of O. eulophus and O. totonacus in the entomological collections is thought to be a consequence of their trophic habits; both species are suggested to be inquilines of rodent nests or burrows.
The Phanaeus endymion species group is defined as a lineage of dung beetles distributed from Mexico to Ecuador. The current arrangement of the P. endymion species group includes 18 species (five ...newly described and three revalidated herein): P. arletteae Arnaud, 2018; P. bravoensis Moctezuma, Sánchez-Huerta & Halffter, 2017; P. chiapanecus sp. nov.; P. edmondsi Moctezuma, Deloya & Halffter, 2019; P. endymion Harold, 1863; P. funereus Balthasar, 1939 stat. rev.; P. halffterorum Edmonds, 1979; P. huichol Moctezuma, Sánchez-Huerta & Halffter, 2017; P. jackenioi sp. nov.; P. malyi Arnaud, 2002; P. olsoufieffi Balthasar, 1939 stat. rev.; P. pacificus sp. nov.; P. panamensis sp. nov.; P. porioni Arnaud, 2001 stat. rev.; P. pyrois Bates, 1887; P. rzedowskii sp. nov.; P. zapotecus Edmonds, 2006; and P. zoque Moctezuma & Halffter, 2017. Phanaeus dionysius Kohlmann, Arriaga-Jiménez & Rös, 2018 syn. nov. is considered as a new junior subjective synonymy of P. zapotecus Edmonds, 2006. Phanaeus blanchardi Olsoufieff, 1924 and P. bothrus Blackwelder, 1944 are junior objective synonyms of P. olsoufieffi Balthasar, 1939 stat. rev.
The first record of the presence of the keratinophagous beetle Trox plicatus Robinson with the feces of the bobcat Lynx rufus Schreber is presented herein. The environmental conditions under which ...the Tro x specimens were collected are mentioned. In addition, the known aspects on the natural history and distribution of T. plicatus in Mexico are summarized and commented.
Two new species of the genus
Weber are described from the region of Los Chimalapas, Oaxaca, Mexico:
and
A diagnosis for distinguishing these new species from the other species of this genus in North ...America is included. This paper is illustrated with pictures of the dorsal habitus and the male genitalia of the new species. The evolutionary relationships of the species are discussed, as well as their distribution and ecology. It is considered that the species of the genus
present in North and Central America correspond to the Typical Neotropical and Mountain Mesoamerican distribution patterns.
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•The new Onthophagus gonzaloi and O. yescaensis are described from Mexico.•New distributional records are provided for O. browni.•The Mexican fauna of Onthophagus now includes 122 ...species.
Two new species of Onthophagus Latreille, 1802 from the Pacific Slope of Mexico are described and illustrated: Onthophagus gonzaloi Moctezuma, Hernández & Sánchez-Huerta, sp. nov., and Onthophagus yescaensis Moctezuma, Hernández & Sánchez-Huerta,sp. nov. New records for Onthophagus browniHowden & Cartwright, 1963 from the Mexican states of Jalisco (the southernmost locality known to date) and Zacatecas are provided.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:51AA52C6-41BF-4A8B-9BC9-D78600EDB32E.
is described from the coniferous-oak forests in the state of Guerrero, and
from coniferous-oak forests and cloud forests in Jalisco and Nayarit. The new species are closely related to
and
...respectively. Morphological trait combination, geographic distribution, and trophic habits show important differences among the studied species. A distribution map and an updated key to separate the species are included.
The dung beetles of the Onthophagus chevrolati species group are preponderantly associated to montane habitats and high plains in the Mexican Transition Zone. Herein, we describe O. bajacalifornianus ...new species, the first of this species group from the southern Baja California Peninsula, which inhabits xeric shrublands near the sea level from the sandy foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna. The new species corresponds to a new monotypic phyletic lineage among the American Onthophagus. The multiple biogeographical origins of the Baja Californian endemic biota are briefly discussed. The need for recognising two new biogeographical elements is highlighted: the Baja Californian Paleoamerican sub-pattern (Miocenic Holarctic affinities) and the Neotropical Baja Californian pattern (Miocenic Neotropical affinities).
http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7840ECCA-4CCC-4DB1-A30D-560FEE84AABF
Abstract Different hypotheses have been proposed to explain the environmental gradients‐biotic structuring relationship. Nevertheless, several inconsistencies have arisen when only one hypothesis is ...chosen to explain the biological diversity patterns. Our aim is to test a multiple hypotheses approach to explain the structure of a coprophilic scarab local guild. Coprophilic Scarabaeoidea beetles were sampled for 33 sites along the study region (Los Chimalapas, Oaxaca, Mexico). Several environmental variables were used to test four hypotheses for geographic gradients: Productivity, ambient energy, habitat heterogeneity and temporal heterogeneity. Generalised linear mixed models were used to test the relationship of the hypotheses on the abundance, species richness and Shannon‐Wiener diversity of the local guild. Moreover, canonical correspondence analysis was performed to analyse the effects on species composition. Abundance was negatively affected by the simultaneous effect between two habitat heterogeneity factors, while both species richness (positive effect) and Shannon‐Wiener diversity (negative effect) were mainly related to productivity, and species composition was mainly explained by habitat heterogeneity. We conclude that multiple hypotheses, both based on species‐energy and heterogeneity, need to be considered to explain biotic setting of communities, ensembles, assemblages, local guilds and other complex biotic systems.
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