Iranian Journal of Applied Ecology

The present study was conducted to assess effect of dung beetles function on dung removal and seeds dispersion in rangeland of University of Sharekord through completely randomized design in summer. Therefore, the meshes consist of both large and small size was used and filled by goat dung in six treatments (presence of all beetles, absent of the beetles, presence of dwellers and tunnelers, absent of rollers- presence of dwellers, absent of tunnelers and roller- presence of dwellers, presence of small rollers and small tunnelers, absent of large tunnelers and large rollers- Presence of dwellers and small rollers, absent of tunnelers, large rollers) with six replications. In order to assess the ecological function of these insects in the seeds translocation, three sizes of plastic beads used as seed mimics. Results illustrated that the maximum function of the dung beetles was calculated at the investigated possible treatment of presence of dwellers, absent of large tunneler and large roller beetles and, present of small tuneller and small roller beetles. Total of 34.02% of dungs were removed. The least dung removal was calculated in the control treatment (absent of beetle, 0.040%) and possible treatment of dwellers, large and small tunellers and, also absent and present of large rollers and small rollers (25.06%) respectively. Seed removal decreased in the order of: small size (24.40%) > medium size (3.73%) > large size (1.40%). In general, these insects play an important role in the dung removal and secondary seeds dispersal that with regard to the various factors affecting the function of the beetles, further studies would be needed on investigating deeply different seasons and different dung of live stocks feeding on the rangelands.