Rolling in it: Dung Beetles' Taste Preferences Uncovered

A dung beetle inhabiting the Malaysian island of Langkawi prefers the faeces of an omnivorous long-tailed macaque, and is active only in forest areas, even though they can find the primate dung in other areas, according to research recently published in the journal Tropical Agricultural Science. The study's 'observational' method could also be applied to other species to reveal insights into how they are responding to changing environments.

Dung beetles perform many crucial roles in the ecosystem, from soil enrichment and nutrient cycling to seed dispersal and fly control. They are classified as rollers, tunnelers or dwellers, depending on what they do with the dung. The survival of these creatures is highly dependent on other animals, and affected by the environment. Recent work has shown that their numbers are decreasing in areas of Borneo, another island in Malaysia, where logging has taken place.

Salmah Yaakop and colleagues from the Centre for Insect Systematics at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), observed macaque troops in a tropical mixed rainforest on Langkawi, an island off Malaysia's west coast that is an UNESCO Geopark site and popular tourist destination. When the team spotted the beetles in the act of rolling dung, they collected them, identified the species of beetle and analysed the dung.

Although three species of dung beetle have been identified in Malaysia, the researchers found only one, Paragymnopleurus maurus, on the island that was active during the daytime. They show that these beetles exclusively choose the dung of Macaca fascicularis, which eats both fruit and meat as opposed to that of other macaques in the area which are vegetarian.

Paragymnopleurus maurus is a large dung beetle, and more sensitive to forest disturbances than its smaller cousins because they need a large area with a large mammal population to survive. P. maurus has been seen elsewhere rolling and enjoying dung from other omnivorous animals, including carrion, pigs, cattle and even elephants, so the researchers speculate that it may have expanded its food preferences due to scarcity of usual sources.

Given the importance of dung beetles for ecosystems, further work should be done to understand what about the primate dung attracts the beetles, and how this affects the dispersal of seeds consumed by the macaques. The methodology could be used to study other species interactions and will contribute to our understanding of ecosystem dynamics.

For more information about this research, please contact:Assoc. Prof. Dr. Salmah YaakopSchool of Environmental and Natural Resource SciencesFaculty of Science and TechnologyUniversiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, MalaysiaEmail: [email protected]^[1] Tel: +603 8921 3384Mobile: +6013 671 3895The original paper is available at: http://bit.ly/2EdIWDz^[2]

About Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science (JTAS)Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science (JTAS) is published by Universiti Putra Malaysia in English and is open to authors around the world regardless of nationality. Beginning 2012, it would be published four times a year in February, May, August and November. Other Pertanika series include Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology (JST), and Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities (JSSH).

JTAS aims to provide a forum for high quality research related to tropical agricultural research. Areas relevant to the scope of the journal include: agricultural biotechnology, biochemistry, biology, ecology, fisheries, forestry, food sciences, entomology, genetics, microbiology, pathology and management, physiology, plant and animal sciences, production of plants and animals of economic importance, and veterinary medicine. The journal publishes original academic articles dealing with research on issues of worldwide relevance. http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/^[3]

For more information about the journal, contact:The Chief Executive Editor (UPM Journals)Head, Journal Division, UPM PressOffice of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (R&I)IDEA Tower 2, UPM-MDTC Technology CentreUniversiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, MalaysiaPhone: +603 8947 1622, Email: [email protected]^[4]

Distributed for Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology by ResearchSEA.

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References

1. ^{^} [email protected] (www.acnnewswire.com)
2. ^{^} http://bit.ly/2EdIWDz (bit.ly)
3. ^{^} http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/ (www.pertanika.upm.edu.my)
4. ^{^} [email protected] (www.acnnewswire.com)
5. ^{^} Nanotechnology (www.acnnewswire.com)
6. ^{^} Science & Research (www.acnnewswire.com)
7. ^{^} Environment (www.acnnewswire.com)
8. ^{^} Daily News (www.acnnewswire.com)
9. ^{^} Speciality Chemicals (www.acnnewswire.com)