Effects of soil compaction and leaf litter on burial preferences in Nicrophorus orbicollis

Burying beetles spend a substantial proportion of their life cycle buried in the soil during periods of inactivity. The American burying beetle (ABB), Nicrophorus americanus, is a federally endangered species that has no critical habitat designated because it occurs in many types of habitat. ABB is nocturnal and buries into the soil during the day.  We used laboratory trials to test preferred soil characteristics of a closely-related nocturnal species,  Nicrophorus orbicollis. During periods of inactivity, N. orbicollis prefer loose soil over compact soil or when burying for reproduction. However, when leaf litter was added, compaction of the soil did not affect use. From this experiment, ABB are likely to use loose soil with leaf litter during rest and conservation measures that increase soil compaction and remove detritus are likely to deter ABB from a construction zone even when carcasses are present.