Rainfall seasonality and guild composition of scarabaeinae dung beetles in a forest in south Western Ghats

Abstract

Effects of rainfall seasonality on functional and temporal guild composition of scarabaeinae beetles in a forest in South Western Ghats was studied. Dung baited pitfall traps were used to collect the beetles in the northeast monsoon, summer and southwest monsoon seasons. For each collection efforts trap contents were collected at 12.00 h intervals to separate the diurnal and nocturnal collections. Tunneler guild dominated the three seasons. Heavy rains prevailing in the southwest monsoon negatively affected the roller and dweller guild. Nocturnal guild dominated the three seasons and availability of food at night seemed to be the factor that influenced the temporal guild abundance rather than rainfall seasonality.