An experimental study on bioturbation and dung removal activities of Catharsius molossus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in the Greater Himalaya

Research reveals that the dung beetle Catharsius molossus exhibits significant variation in bioturbation and dung removal activities across elevations in the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area, with both metrics showing a strong linear relationship to elevation. This suggests that higher-altitude habitats may experience reduced nutrient transfer from dung to soil due to diminished beetle activity, potentially impacting surrounding ecosystems. The study employed experimental methods at six distinct elevations to quantify these effects, providing new insights into the ecological role of this species in the Greater Himalaya.

Singh, A. P., De, K., Uniyal, V. P., & Sathyakumar, S. (2021). An experimental study on bioturbation and dung removal activities of Catharsius molossus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in the Greater Himalaya. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity, 14(2), 169–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2020.12.010