The spatial changes in species composition are closely related to the environmental aspects associated to habitat variation. The natural landscapes of Minas Gerais are organized in mosaics, associated to anthropic action or natural factors. Here we study dung beetles in the Perdizes Plateau, Carrancas (Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil). The area of study has a landscape composed mainly by four phytophysiognomies: Brazilian savannah, altitudinal grasslands, rupestrian fields and forests. The objective of our study was to detect the spatial distribution in composition of dung beetles and estimate beta diversity between phytophysiognomies. The dung beetles were collected in four areas of each phytophysiognomy, using pitfall traps baited with carrion or human feces. A total of 2,363 individuals of 52 species were collected: 1,247 individuals of 29 species at the forest, 20 exclusive to this phytophysiognomy; 352 individuals of 17 species at the grassland, with four exclusive species; 386 individuals of 19 species at the Brazilian savannah, with five exclusive species; and 378 individuals of 20 species at the rupestrian field, with five exclusive species. The traps baited with feces were the most efficient in capturing dung beetles, and the forest was the phytophysiognomy with the highest diversity and abundance. This pattern indicates that plant-covering influences the structure of the dung beetle community. High beta diversity indicates that phytophysiognomies are complementary. However, the other phytophysiognomies are also important for conservation, once species composition occurring at each environment is essential for the maintenance of the regional diversity.
Spatial distribution; dung beetle; diversity; ecology
