Global dung webs: high trophic generalism of dung beetles along the latitudinal diversity gradient

• DOI: 10.1111/ele.13095
• Publication Date: 2018-06-25T10:54:09Z
• Authors: Kevin Frank; Frank‐Thorsten Krell; Eleanor M. Slade; Elizabeth H. Raine; Li Yuen Chiew; Thomas Schmitt; Charles S. Vairappan; Philippe Walter; Nico Blüthgen
• Keywords: Detritivore; Scarabaeinae

At the global scale, species diversity is known to strongly increase towards equator for most taxa. According theory, a higher resource specificity of consumers facilitates coexistence larger number and has been suggested as an explanation latitudinal gradient. However, only few studies support predicted in specialisation or even showed opposite results. Surprisingly, analyses detritivores are still missing. Therefore, we performed analysis on degree trophic dung beetles. We summarised 45 studies, covering preferences total 994503 individuals, calculate each study region. Our results highlighted significant (4.3-fold) beetles attracted vertebrate equator. their was low, unrelated revealed highly generalistic use resources that remained similar along