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Data from: Evidence of greater dung beetle abundance in a rewilded area compared to nearby organic farms

Steer, Mark1; Brompton, Sarah2; Cotton, Sam3

Published Jan 22, 2025 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.fbg79cp5r

Data files

Jan 22, 2025 version files 9.34 KB

Abstract

Organic farms have been shown to harbor larger and more diverse invertebrate populations, and associated ecosystem services, compared to other conventional farming methods. However, data on the impacts of rewilding on invertebrates remains scarce. Dung beetles contribute significantly to ecosystem function and are considered reliable indicators of ecological integrity. They have undergone serious population declines, largely due to changing agricultural practices. Dung beetles were sampled simultaneously at each of the four sites for a total of 120 trapping days at each site. Two of the sites had been rewilded using large, free-roaming herbivores and two were nearby organic farms. The rewilding sites yielded greater species richness and abundance compared to organic farms. The abundance of dung beetles was more than twenty times greater at the rewilded sites compared to organic sites. One paracoprid (dung-burying) species, Onthophagus similis, was particularly abundant, comprising 95% of all individuals at the rewilded sites. Nonetheless, captures at the rewilding sites remained significantly higher even after this species was omitted from the analysis.

Practical implication: While additional research is necessary to ascertain whether our findings signify an atypical occurrence, the evidence from this case study suggests that rewilding with large herbivores may provide an effective strategy to combat dung beetle declines, restore ecological function, and enhance ecosystem services.