What does this research mean for the field?

Pasture degradation in the Atlantic Forest biome significantly reduces soil carbon pools and dung beetle diversity, with high levels of degradation severely impairing ecological functions such as feces burial. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate how different levels of pasture degradation alter soil physical, chemical, and biological attributes, as well as the diversity and ecological functions of Scarabaeinae dung beetles.

August 29, 2026Journal of Insect ConservationOpen Access

Ecological function and diversity of scarabaeine dung beetles at degraded pastures in the Atlantic Forest biome

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Authors

CSChansislayne Gabriela da SilvaInstituto Federal do Espírito Santo PGPedro Henrique Charpinel GiestasUniversidade Federal do Espírito Santo DBDiego Lang BurakInstituto Federal do Espírito Santo

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Implication

Comparative ecological study reveals pasture degradation reduces dung beetle diversity and soil carbon pools, highlighting the need for sustainable land management.

Key Points

To evaluate how different levels of pasture degradation alter soil physical, chemical, and biological attributes, as well as the diversity and ecological functions of Scarabaeinae dung beetles.
Assessed 21 field plots in Brazil's Atlantic Forest biome, comprising native forest fragments (n=7), low-degraded pastures (n=7), and high-degraded pastures (n=7).
Measured soil temperature, moisture, physical penetration resistance, CO2 emissions, and carbon pools (total organic, labile, and recalcitrant carbon).
Surveyed dung beetle abundance, species richness, and functional actions including feces burial and soil excavation.
Compared to native forest fragments, pastures showed reductions in total organic carbon (-39%), labile carbon (-36%), recalcitrant carbon (-47%), and CO2 emissions (-38%), alongside increases in soil resistance (+34%) and temperature (+7%).
Pastures exhibited an overall 55% decrease in dung beetle abundance and a 49% decrease in species richness relative to forest fragments.
Low-degraded pastures preserved twice the abundance and species richness of dung beetles compared to high-degraded pastures, which suffered severe losses in roller beetle populations and feces burial activity.

Cite This Study

Silva et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a92995f8e5d7d1fc0c11335 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-026-00815-7

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Implication

Comparative ecological study reveals pasture degradation reduces dung beetle diversity and soil carbon pools, highlighting the need for sustainable land management.

Ecological function and diversity of scarabaeine dung beetles at degraded pastures in the Atlantic Forest biome

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Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Ecological function and diversity of scarabaeine dung beetles at degraded pastures in the Atlantic Forest biome

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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