Journal of Rangeland

  Dung beetles are influencing on a wide variety of ecological processes in their habitats. A completely randomized design was used to assess the effects of dung beetles function on dung removal and seeds dispersion in University of Sharekord research station during summer of 2013. The large and small size meshes were used and filled by cattle dung in six treatments with six replications. To evaluate the ecological effects of the insects in seeds translocation, three sizes of plastic beads were used as seed mimics. Data were analyzed by SPSS18 software. Results indicated that the maximum function of the dung beetles was found when dwellers and small tuneller and roller beetles were present but large tunneler and roller beetles were absent. The least dung removal was observed in the control treatment (absent of beetles) and a low possibility of presence of dwellers, large and small tunellers and small rollers as well as absence of large rollers. The maximum numbers of translocated seeds had small size but a few large size seeds were moved by beetles. Overall, the beetles play an important role in dung removal and secondary seeds dispersal in rangelands. The functionality of the beetles are highly affected by many factors and may vary in different seasons, hence further research are required to study the effects of beetles on various livestock dungs in rangelands.