Cattle grazing practices influence dung beetle communities on rangeland

Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) have a significant role in regulating the ecosystem services they provide on rangeland ecosystems. Colonization of dung piles by dung beetles can help facilitate the decomposition of dung, control dung-breeding pests, and recycle important nutrients into the soil to improve pasture quality. Cattle are grazed on pastures at various stocking densities depending on the type of grazing practice. The influence of grazing practices on dung beetle communities and services remains largely unknown. The purpose of this experiment was to measure dung beetle abundance and diversity across differing grazing practices and to determine how cattle-stocking densities may influence dung beetle activity. Three ranch locations were chosen for this research on rangelands in the Sandhills ecoregion of Nebraska. Dung beetle populations were monitored throughout the grazing season on pastures at four stocking rates: no cattle; low-stocking, continuous grazing; low-stocking, rotational grazing; and ultra-high stocking, rotational grazing. Results from the study indicated significantly higher dung beetle diversity in treatments where rotational grazing was practiced compared to continuous grazing or no grazing. Based on these data, rotational cattle grazing at low or ultra-high stocking densities may favor the colonization of dung beetles on cattle-grazed rangeland.