Dung Beetles: The Unsung Heroes of Nutrient Cycling

Dung beetles are a group of decomposer insects that process animal waste and return nutrients to the soil. This article explains their ecological roles in nutrient cycling, soil aeration, and parasite control, and provides a practical checklist of their benefits for agricultural and natural ecosystems. The content is written for students, researchers, life-science professionals, and informed general readers who want to understand how these insects support ecosystem function and how to assess their presence and activity on managed land.

What Dung Beetles Do in Ecosystems

Dung beetles belong to the family Scarabaeidae and use animal dung as a food source for adults and larvae. Their feeding and nesting behaviors move organic material from the soil surface into the soil profile, where it becomes available to plants and soil organisms. The functional ecology of dung beetles is best understood through a trait-based framework that links their morphological, behavioral, and physiological characteristics to ecosystem processes. A 2023 framework published in The Journal of Animal Ecology identified 66 dung beetle traits that respond to environmental conditions or affect ecosystem processes, covering categories such as morphology, feeding, reproduction, physiology, activity, and movement. The same framework documented 136 trait-response relationships and 77 trait-effect relationships, showing that no single trait category explains how beetles respond to stressors or influence ecological processes. This means that a diverse community with varied traits is more likely to maintain multiple functions than a community dominated by one functional type.

Dung beetles are classified into three functional groups based on how they use dung. Tunnelers bury dung directly beneath the pat, rollers form dung balls and roll them away from the source before burial, and dwellers live and breed within the dung pat itself. Each group moves nutrients differently through the soil profile, and their combined activity supports several ecosystem services at once. A 2017 study in Ecology used nitrogen-15 isotope tracing to show that dung beetles influenced at least seven ecological functions in alpine pastures, including dung removal, transport of dung-derived nitrogen into the soil, microbial ammonification and nitrification, plant uptake of nitrogen, herbage growth, and changes in botanical composition. Tunnelers and dwellers were similarly efficient for most functions, with differences based on spatial and temporal patterns of activity.

Nutrient Cycling and Soil Fertility

The most direct service provided by dung beetles is the transfer of nutrients from dung into the soil. When cattle or other herbivores deposit dung on pasture, the nutrients in that dung remain on the surface until physical breakdown, rainfall, or biological activity moves them into the soil. Dung beetles accelerate this process by burying dung in tunnels or nests, placing organic matter directly in the root zone where plants can access it.

Research on dung beetle effects on soil and plant growth has demonstrated measurable improvements in soil properties. A 2024 study in Insects examined the impact of four dung beetle species on sorghum growth and soil physico-chemical properties over a two-month period. The study found significant increases in organic matter content, pH, conductivity, enzyme activities including urease and phosphatase, and microbial load in treatments with dung beetles. The study also highlighted differences in effectiveness among species, suggesting that beetle diversity plays a crucial role in nutrient cycling. A 2021 study in the Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition similarly reported that dung beetle activity improved soil bacterial diversity and enzyme activity and enhanced the growth and antioxidant content of Chinese cabbage. A 2023 study in Applied Soil Ecology examined the effect of dung and dung beetle application on topsoil fungal assemblages in a post-coal mining reclamation site, with the goal of improving soil health through biological restoration.

The nitrogen cycle is particularly affected by dung beetle activity. The 2017 isotope tracing study in Ecology demonstrated that dung beetles facilitate the movement of dung-derived nitrogen into soil at depths up to 20 centimeters and that this nitrogen remains available for plant uptake for up to one year after dung application. The study also showed that dung beetles influence microbial processes including ammonification and nitrification, which convert organic nitrogen into forms that plants can absorb. This places dung beetles at the center of a nutrient pathway that connects herbivore waste to plant production.

Soil Aeration and Physical Structure

Tunneling activity by dung beetles creates channels in the soil that improve aeration and water infiltration. These tunnels serve multiple purposes. They provide nesting chambers for larvae, they allow oxygen to reach deeper soil layers, and they create pathways for water movement during rainfall. The burrowing activity of dung beetles improves soil fertility and hydrological properties and regulates biogeochemical cycles, as described in the 2024 Insects study on sorghum growth. The same study emphasized that dung beetles are key species for environmental health and plant productivity because their burrowing changes the physical environment in ways that benefit other organisms.

Soil structure improvements from dung beetle activity are most pronounced in pasture systems where cattle dung is abundant and where beetle populations are diverse. The 2022 study in Ecology and Evolution on subtropical US grasslands reported that dung beetle abundance, functional diversity, and species richness had a substantial impact on the rate of dung turnover, with approximately 70 percent of dung removed from the soil surface after three months. This removal represents both nutrient transfer and physical incorporation of organic matter into the soil.

Parasite and Pest Control

Dung beetles compete with dung-breeding flies and internal parasites for access to fresh dung. When beetles remove or bury dung quickly, they reduce the habitat available for fly larvae and for the intermediate stages of gastrointestinal parasites that affect livestock. The trait-based framework published in The Journal of Animal Ecology in 2023 identified parasite transmission as one of the ecosystem processes influenced by dung beetles, along with nutrient cycling, bioturbation, plant growth, seed dispersal, and effects on other dung-based organisms.

The practical benefit for livestock producers is reduced exposure to flies and parasites that can affect animal health and productivity. Dung beetle activity does not eliminate the need for parasite management programs, but it can reduce the environmental load of parasites and flies when beetle populations are healthy. The 2025 review in PeerJ of 4,145 peer-reviewed articles on dung beetle research noted that publications on the effect of veterinary chemicals showed the largest drop over time, while articles relating to ecosystem function rose to become the most prevalent topic in the last two decades. This shift reflects growing recognition that dung beetles provide measurable services that can be disrupted by management practices, including the use of certain veterinary products.

Seed Dispersal and Plant Community Effects

Dung beetles contribute to seed dispersal when they bury dung containing seeds consumed by herbivores. Seeds that pass through the digestive system of cattle or other animals are deposited in dung, and beetles that move that dung into the soil effectively plant those seeds at depth. The trait-based framework in The Journal of Animal Ecology identified seed dispersal as one of the ecosystem processes affected by dung beetle traits, along with plant growth and changes in botanical composition.

The 2017 Ecology study on nitrogen tracing in alpine pastures found that dung beetle activity influenced changes in botanical composition in addition to herbage growth. This suggests that dung beetles do not simply return nutrients to the system. They also shape which plants benefit from those nutrients, potentially influencing pasture composition over time. The 2018 study in Ecosystems on dung beetle ecological functions along a tropical elevational gradient examined how biodiversity, environment, and ecosystem functioning interact, providing evidence that dung beetle effects on plant communities vary across environmental conditions.

Dung Beetle Diversity and Ecosystem Function

The relationship between dung beetle diversity and ecosystem function is well documented. A 2023 study in Nature Communications investigated dung removal by dung beetles in field experiments replicated in 38 pastures around the world. The study compared pastures managed with low- and high-intensity cattle grazing regimes and found that the impacts of intensification were heterogeneous, either diminishing or increasing dung beetle species richness, functional diversity, and dung removal rates. Dung removal increased with species richness across sites, while functional diversity consistently enhanced dung removal within sites, independently of cattle grazing intensity or climate. The study concluded that ecosystem services related to decomposition and nutrient cycling can be maintained under intensified cattle stocking rates when a functionally diverse dung beetle community inhabits the human-modified landscape.

The 2022 study in Ecology and Evolution on subtropical US grasslands found that dung beetle abundance, functional diversity, and species richness had a substantial impact on dung turnover, with approximately 70 percent of dung removed from the soil surface after three months. Functional diversity and evenness did not have a significant positive effect on dung removal in managed grasslands compared to natural grasslands, demonstrating a strong relationship between dung beetle assemblage composition and the delivery of dung degradation services. The study suggested that trees should be dispersed within open pasture areas and within proximity to adjacent closed-canopy habitats to facilitate the exchange of dung beetles between habitats and maintain dung degradation services.

A 2017 study in Environmental Entomology examined necrophagous and coprophagous dung beetle assemblages in an Atlantic Forest remnant in Brazil. The study found that necrophagous dung beetles were more sensitive to environmental disturbance, with lower richness and changes in species dominance resulting in lower carrion removal in areas with greater disturbance and lower environmental quality. Carrion removal was 39.6 percent in more disturbed areas compared to 75.1 percent in less disturbed areas. Dung removal rates were similar between areas at approximately 80 percent. Only the abundance and biomass of rollers contributed significantly to dung removal, highlighting the importance of functional guild composition for specific ecosystem services.

At a Glance: Dung Beetle Ecological Services Checklist

The following table summarizes the primary ecological services provided by dung beetles, the mechanism by which each service is delivered, and the management implication for farmers and land managers.

Factors That Affect Dung Beetle Activity

Climate and Seasonality

Dung beetle activity is strongly seasonal in temperate systems, driven by temperature and moisture. A 2026 dataset from Terceira Island in the Azores documented year-round monthly sampling of dung-associated arthropods in two cattle pastures, including dung beetles, rove beetles, and water scavenger beetles. The dataset covered 96 sampling events and 1,701 occurrence records from October 2022 to September 2023, with 13,882 individual arthropods collected. The study noted that dung beetle activity can be reshaped by pasture management, including changes in grazing regimes and dung availability, and that oceanic islands often have smaller species pools dominated by introduced taxa.

Land managers should expect seasonal windows of dung beetle activity and adjust their expectations for dung degradation accordingly. Dung pats that persist for weeks during cold or dry periods may be removed within days during warm, moist conditions when beetle activity peaks.

Habitat and Land Use

Dung beetle communities respond to vegetation structure, soil properties, and land management. The trait-based framework in The Journal of Animal Ecology identified responses to variation in temperature, water, soil properties, trophic resources, light, vegetation structure, competition, predation, and parasitism. This means that changes in any of these factors can shift beetle community composition and the services they provide.

The 2022 study in The Journal of Animal Ecology on tropical forest dung beetle-mammal interaction networks found that dung beetle species richness declined in response to lower above-ground carbon density and was particularly low in plantations and the most disturbed forest sites. Mammal diversity remained high even in disturbed areas, and the generalist feeding patterns of dung beetles conferred resilience to the interaction networks. The study highlighted the importance of protecting logged and fragmented forests to maintain interaction networks and potentially prevent extinction cascades.

The 2022 study in Revista De Biologia Tropical examined the effect of vegetation cover on dung beetles and their ecological functions in an Andean forest of Colombia. The 2018 study in Biodiversity and Conservation examined dung beetles and their ecological functions in three agroforestry systems in the Lacandona rainforest of Mexico. Both studies provide evidence that vegetation cover and land use type influence beetle communities and the ecosystem services they deliver.

Large Herbivore Presence

Dung beetles depend on mammal dung as a food resource, and the presence of large herbivores is a primary driver of beetle abundance and diversity. A 2026 study in Science demonstrated that elephants are central to a generalized network of interactions between dung beetles and large herbivores in East Africa. Computer simulations predicted disproportionate dung beetle losses if elephants go extinct, and a 15-year experiment supported this prediction. Excluding elephants diminished dung beetle abundance, diversity, and ecosystem functions, while excluding smaller ungulates had little added effect. Dung beetle abundance was also depressed in nearby landscapes where livestock had displaced elephants.

For agricultural systems, this means that livestock presence supports dung beetle populations, but the replacement of diverse wild herbivore communities with a single livestock species may reduce beetle diversity. The 2019 study in Oecologia Australis examined whether dung type or intraspecific variation in biomass is more important in determining dung beetle ecological function, providing evidence that resource quality and beetle body size both matter for ecosystem service delivery.

Practical Assessment of Dung Beetle Activity

Observing Dung Beetles on Your Land

Farmers and land managers can assess dung beetle activity through direct observation and simple monitoring. The following steps provide a practical approach to evaluating whether dung beetles are providing ecosystem services on a property.

1. Select a representative pasture or field where livestock have recently grazed. Choose an area with fresh dung pats that are less than 24 hours old.
2. Mark several dung pats with flags or stakes so they can be relocated. Use at least five pats spread across the area to account for variation.
3. Observe the pats for beetle activity. Look for beetles on the surface, tunnels beneath the pat, and evidence of dung removal such as soil mounds or buried dung balls.
4. Check the pats at regular intervals over several weeks. Record the date when each pat is fully degraded or incorporated into the soil.
5. Compare degradation rates across seasons and management units. Faster degradation indicates higher beetle activity.
6. Dig beneath a fresh pat to a depth of 20 centimeters and look for beetle larvae, tunnels, and buried dung. This provides direct evidence of nesting activity.

Records and Measurements

Maintain records of dung beetle observations to track changes over time. Useful measurements include the number of days for dung pats to disappear, the presence or absence of beetle tunnels beneath pats, and the species or functional groups observed. The 2026 dataset from the Azores provides a model for standardized sampling using dung-baited pitfall traps deployed for two to four days per site per month. Land managers can adapt this approach with simpler methods, such as visual surveys of pats and soil digs.

The 2023 study in Nature Communications used standardized field experiments across 38 pastures worldwide to measure dung removal. The study measured dung removal in pastures managed with low- and high-intensity regimes and found that functional diversity consistently enhanced dung removal within sites, independently of cattle grazing intensity or climate. This finding supports the use of functional diversity assessments as a management indicator.

Interpreting Observations

Dung pats that persist for extended periods may indicate low beetle activity. The 2022 study in Ecology and Evolution reported that approximately 70 percent of dung was removed from the soil surface after three months in subtropical US grasslands. Lands lost to grazing due to dung buildup and pasture contamination total millions of acres per year in US pastures, according to the same study. Persistent dung pats can reduce available grazing area and increase the risk of parasite transmission.

The 2017 study in Environmental Entomology found that necrophagous dung beetles were more sensitive to environmental disturbance than coprophagous species. Land managers who observe reduced carrion removal or dung removal in disturbed areas should consider whether habitat quality or management practices are limiting beetle populations.

Management Practices That Support Dung Beetles

Maintaining Habitat Heterogeneity

The 2022 study in Ecology and Evolution suggested that trees should be dispersed within open pasture areas and within proximity to adjacent closed-canopy habitats to facilitate the exchange of dung beetles between habitats. Trees provide thermal refuge for beetles, which is particularly important in hot or open environments. Maintaining hedgerows, riparian buffers, and scattered trees in pasture landscapes supports beetle movement and diversity.

The 2022 study in The Journal of Animal Ecology found that interaction networks remained structurally and functionally similar across an environmental disturbance gradient, only becoming simplified in the most disturbed sites. Protecting logged and fragmented forests maintains interaction networks and potentially prevents extinction cascades. For agricultural landscapes, this means retaining natural or semi-natural habitat patches within or adjacent to production areas.

Managing Livestock and Veterinary Products

Veterinary chemicals can affect dung beetle survival and reproduction. The 2025 review in PeerJ found that publications on the effect of veterinary chemicals showed the largest drop over time among dung beetle research topics, which may reflect changes in research focus instead of reduced importance. Land managers should consult with veterinarians about the potential effects of parasite treatments on dung beetle populations and consider timing treatments to minimize exposure.

The 2026 study in Science demonstrated that excluding elephants diminished dung beetle abundance, diversity, and ecosystem functions in East Africa. While elephants are not present in most agricultural systems, the principle that large herbivore presence supports beetle populations applies to livestock systems. Maintaining consistent grazing pressure provides a continuous supply of dung for beetles.

Grazing Management

Grazing intensity affects dung beetle communities and their ecosystem services. The 2023 study in Nature Communications found that the impacts of intensification were heterogeneous across 38 pastures worldwide, either diminishing or increasing dung beetle species richness, functional diversity, and dung removal rates. The study concluded that ecosystem services can be maintained under intensified cattle stocking rates when a functionally diverse dung beetle community inhabits the landscape.

The 2026 dataset from the Azores noted that pasture management, including changes in grazing regimes and dung availability, can reshape dung beetle activity. Seasonal cessation of grazing during summer maize cultivation at one study site provided a contrast with year-round grazing at another site, allowing comparison of management effects on beetle phenology and dominance patterns.

Agroforestry and Shaded Systems

Shaded coffee plantations and other agroforestry systems can support dung beetle communities comparable to those of natural ecosystems. A 2026 preprint from southern Ecuador assessed dung beetle diversity in 14 shaded coffee plantations and recorded 209 individuals belonging to 14 genera and 42 species. Habitat type and altitude significantly influenced dung beetle abundance, with a predominance of coprophagous and paracoprid species. The study emphasized the contribution of dung beetles to ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling, soil improvement, and biological pest control in Andean agroecosystems.

The 2018 study in Biodiversity and Conservation examined dung beetles and their ecological functions in three agroforestry systems in the Lacandona rainforest of Mexico. The 2018 study in Ecosystems examined dung beetle ecological functions along a tropical elevational gradient. Both studies support the value of tree-covered agricultural systems for maintaining beetle diversity and function.

Common Failure Patterns in Dung Beetle Management

Overgrazing and Dung Scarcity

When stocking rates are too high, dung may be deposited faster than beetles can process it, leading to pasture contamination and reduced grazing area. When stocking rates are too low, beetles may not have enough dung to support large populations. The 2022 study in Ecology and Evolution reported that lands lost to grazing due to dung buildup and pasture contamination total millions of acres per year in US pastures, demonstrating the economic significance of dung processing failure.

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation

Removing trees, hedgerows, and natural habitat patches reduces beetle diversity and the services they provide. The 2022 study in Ecology and Evolution found that trees provide thermal refuge for beetles and that proximity to closed-canopy habitats facilitates beetle exchange between habitats. The 2022 study in The Journal of Animal Ecology found that dung beetle species richness declined in response to lower above-ground carbon density and was particularly low in plantations and the most disturbed forest sites.

Veterinary Chemical Exposure

Some veterinary products used to control parasites in livestock can harm dung beetles. The 2025 review in PeerJ documented that research on the effect of veterinary chemicals has declined over time, but the trait-based framework in The Journal of Animal Ecology identified parasitism as one of the environmental factors to which dung beetles show trait-based responses. Land managers should be aware that treatments applied to livestock can affect non-target organisms in dung.

Soil Compaction and Disturbance

Tunneling beetles require soil that can be excavated. Compacted soils, frequent tillage, and heavy machinery traffic can reduce beetle nesting success. The 2024 study in Insects on sorghum growth found that dung beetle burrowing activity improves soil fertility and hydrological properties, but this activity depends on soil conditions that permit tunneling.

Limitations and Knowledge Gaps

Regional Variation in Beetle Communities

Dung beetle communities vary widely across regions, and management recommendations must be adapted to local conditions. The 2023 study in Nature Communications found that the effects of beetle diversity on dung removal were more variable across sites than within sites, and the impacts of grazing intensification were heterogeneous across 38 pastures worldwide. The 2025 review in PeerJ found that research into dung beetles is global but dominated by Europe and North America, while research from South America, Africa, and Australia ranges wider in topics.

Functional Group Differences

Different functional groups of dung beetles contribute differently to ecosystem services. The 2017 study in Environmental Entomology found that only the abundance and biomass of rollers contributed significantly to dung removal in an Atlantic Forest remnant. The 2017 study in Ecology found that tunnelers and dwellers were similarly efficient for most functions, with differences based on spatial and temporal patterns. Land managers should not assume that all beetle species provide the same services.

Data Gaps in Specific Systems

Some ecosystems and management systems have limited dung beetle research. The 2026 preprint from southern Ecuador noted that dung beetle diversity and ecological roles within shaded coffee systems remain poorly understood. The 2026 dataset from the Azores noted that year-round, standardized, event-based datasets for dung-associated arthropod assemblages remain scarce for oceanic islands. The 2026 study in Biology on Geotrupidae mitogenomes noted that limited complete mitochondrial genome data has slowed phylogenetic and comparative studies of this dung beetle family.

Safety and Regulatory Context

Veterinary Product Stewardship

The use of veterinary products that affect dung beetles should be considered within the broader context of integrated parasite management. Land managers should consult with veterinarians about the potential environmental effects of treatments and follow label instructions for application rates and withdrawal periods. The 2025 review in PeerJ documented the decline in research on veterinary chemical effects on dung beetles, but this does not indicate that risks have been eliminated.

Invasive Species Considerations

Oceanic islands and other isolated systems often have species pools dominated by introduced taxa, as noted in the 2026 dataset from the Azores. Introduced dung beetle species can provide ecosystem services, but their effects on native communities should be monitored. Land managers should not introduce non-native beetle species without consulting relevant authorities.

Professional Escalation Criteria

Land managers should seek professional advice when they observe the following conditions:

1. Dung pats persist for more than three months during warm, moist conditions when beetle activity should be high.
2. Dung beetle populations appear to decline suddenly following livestock treatments or management changes.
3. Pasture contamination from dung buildup affects more than a small percentage of grazing area.
4. Soil conditions prevent tunneling activity, such as severe compaction or waterlogging.
5. Land use changes are planned that could affect beetle habitat, such as tree removal or conversion of natural areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do dung beetles improve soil fertility?

Dung beetles move dung from the soil surface into the soil profile through tunneling and nesting activity. This transfers nitrogen and other nutrients into the root zone where plants can access them. A 2017 study in Ecology used nitrogen-15 isotope tracing to show that dung beetles facilitated the transport of dung-derived nitrogen into soil at depths up to 20 centimeters and that this nitrogen remained available for plant uptake for up to one year after dung application. The same study found that dung beetles influenced microbial ammonification and nitrification processes, which convert organic nitrogen into plant-available forms.

How long does it take for dung beetles to remove a dung pat?

Dung removal rates vary by region, season, and beetle community composition. A 2022 study in Ecology and Evolution on subtropical US grasslands reported that approximately 70 percent of dung was removed from the soil surface after three months. A 2017 study in Environmental Entomology found that approximately 80 percent of domestic dog dung was removed in an Atlantic Forest remnant in Brazil. Removal rates are faster in warm, moist conditions when beetle activity peaks and slower during cold or dry periods.

What is the difference between tunnelers, rollers, and dwellers?

Tunnelers bury dung directly beneath the pat by excavating tunnels into the soil. Rollers form dung balls and roll them away from the source before burial. Dwellers live and breed within the dung pat itself without moving it. A 2017 study in Ecology found that tunnelers and dwellers were similarly efficient for most ecological functions in alpine pastures, with differences based on spatial and temporal patterns. A 2017 study in Environmental Entomology found that only the abundance and biomass of rollers contributed significantly to dung removal in an Atlantic Forest remnant.

How do dung beetles control parasites and flies?

Dung beetles compete with dung-breeding flies and internal parasites for access to fresh dung. When beetles remove or bury dung quickly, they reduce the habitat available for fly larvae and parasite stages. The trait-based framework published in The Journal of Animal Ecology in 2023 identified parasite transmission as one of the ecosystem processes influenced by dung beetles. Dung beetle activity does not eliminate the need for parasite management programs, but it can reduce the environmental load of parasites and flies when beetle populations are healthy.

Do dung beetles help crops grow?

Research has demonstrated that dung beetle activity can enhance crop growth. A 2024 study in Insects found that four dung beetle species significantly increased organic matter content, pH, conductivity, enzyme activities including urease and phosphatase, and microbial load in soil, with corresponding increases in sorghum growth over a two-month period. A 2021 study in the Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition reported that dung beetle activity improved soil bacterial diversity and enzyme activity and enhanced the growth and antioxidant content of Chinese cabbage.

How can farmers attract and support dung beetles?

Farmers can support dung beetles by maintaining habitat heterogeneity, including scattered trees, hedgerows, and natural habitat patches within pasture landscapes. A 2022 study in Ecology and Evolution suggested that trees should be dispersed within open pasture areas and within proximity to adjacent closed-canopy habitats to facilitate beetle exchange between habitats. Farmers should also consider the effects of veterinary products on beetle populations and maintain consistent grazing pressure to provide a continuous dung supply.

Do dung beetles affect pasture composition?

Dung beetles can influence botanical composition by moving seeds and nutrients through the soil. A 2017 study in Ecology found that dung beetle activity influenced changes in botanical composition in addition to herbage growth in alpine pastures. Seeds that pass through the digestive system of herbivores are deposited in dung, and beetles that bury that dung effectively plant those seeds at depth. This means that beetle activity can shape which plants benefit from dung-derived nutrients.

Are dung beetles affected by climate change?

Dung beetle activity is strongly seasonal in temperate systems, driven by temperature and moisture. A 2026 dataset from Terceira Island in the Azores documented year-round monthly sampling of dung-associated arthropods and noted that seasonal windows of activity may shift under climate variability and land-use change. The trait-based framework in The Journal of Animal Ecology identified temperature and water as environmental factors to which dung beetles show trait-based responses. Land managers should monitor beetle activity across seasons and adjust expectations for dung degradation as conditions change.

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References and Further Reading

• NCBI Literature Resources. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
• PubMed. National Library of Medicine.
• A trait-based framework for dung beetle functional ecology.. The Journal of animal ecology, 2023.
• Importance of elephants for dung beetle biodiversity and ecosystem functions.. Science (New York, N.Y.), 2026.
• Dung removal increases under higher dung beetle functional diversity regardless of grazing intensification.. Nature communications, 2023.
• Dung beetle community composition affects dung turnover in subtropical US grasslands.. Ecology and evolution, 2022.
• Ecological functions provided by dung beetles are interlinked across space and time: evidence from (15) N isotope tracing.. Ecology, 2017.
• Decline of Ecological Functions Performed by Dung Beetles in Areas of Atlantic Forest and Contribution of Rollers and Tunnellers in Organic Matter Removal.. Environmental entomology, 2017.
• Tropical forest dung beetle-mammal dung interaction networks remain similar across an environmental disturbance gradient.. The Journal of animal ecology, 2022.
• Spatial and temporal trends in dung beetle research.. PeerJ, 2025.
• Seasonal variation of dung-associated arthropods in cattle pastures of Terceira Island (Azores): a year-round, event-based dataset.. 2026.
• The Critical Role of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in Agroecosystems: Richness, Abundance, and Structure in Coffee Plantations of Southern Ecuador. 2026.
• Effect of dung and dung beetle application on topsoil fungal assemblage of a post-coal mining reclamation land: Towards soil health improvement. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. Applied Soil Ecology, 2023.
• Dung Beetle Improves soil Bacterial Diversity and Enzyme Activity and Enhances Growth and Antioxidant Content of Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis). Journal of soil science and plant nutrition, 2021.
• Comparative Mitogenomics and Phylogeny of Geotrupidae (Insecta: Coleoptera): Insights from Two New Mitogenomes of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Dung Beetles. Biology, 2026.
• Dung Beetles, Dung Burial, and Plant Growth: Four Scarabaeoid Species and Sorghum. Insects, 2024.
• The Effects of Seasonal Prescribed Burning on Flint Hills Dung The Effects of Seasonal Prescribed Burning on Flint Hills Dung Beetle (Scarabaeinae) Populations Beetle (Scarabaeinae) Populations
• Linking Biodiversity, the Environment and Ecosystem Functioning: Ecological Functions of Dung Beetles Along a Tropical Elevational Gradient. Ecosystems, 2018.
• Dung type or intraspecific variation in biomass: What is more important in determining dung beetle ecological function?. Oecologia Australis, 2019.
• Dung beetles and their ecological functions in three agroforestry systems in the Lacandona rainforest of Mexico. Biodiversity and Conservation, 2018.
• Effect of vegetation cover on dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) and their ecological functions in an Andean forest of Colombia. Revista De Biologia Tropical, 2022.

This article is educational and does not replace institutional policy, professional advice, or applicable safety and regulatory requirements.