Data file for “Forest habitat parameters influence abundance and diversity of cadaver-visiting dung beetles” Authors: von Hoermann C. et al. christian.vonhoermann@gmail.com Phone: +49(0) 8552-96-00156 Fax: +49(0) 8552-96-00100 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The file Scarabaeoidea_Abundance includes abundance data of all captured scarabaeoid species per plot and day after piglet cadaver exposition. Piglet_or_Control_Number --> Number of exposed piglet (P) cadaver and control (C) (1 to 25 in Schwäbische Alb, 26 to 50 in Hainich-Dün and 51 to 75 in Schorfheide-Chorin) PlotID --> Original MIP-Plot ID (MIP = Management Intensity Plot) Days_after_exposition --> Days after the piglet exposition on day 0 mean_temperature --> mean temperatur of the datalogger mounted inside of the wire cage housing the piglet cadaver; mean value of the whole exposition period from 04.08.2014 till 04.09.2014 Cadaver_weight --> weight of the cadaver in kg decomposition_stage --> morphological description of the stage of decomposition ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Introduction: Enquiry of abundance of scarabaeoid beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) on exposed piglet cadavers; samples taken during the fieldwork season in August 2014 Theory: To obtain a more complete picture of scarabaeoid beetles found in differently managed forest types of the Biodiversity Exploratories (http://www.biodiversity-exploratories.de/1/home/), we hypothesize that beetle abundance and species richness differs between each decomposition stage of piglet carcasses and between various forest habitats. Furthermore, we suppose that biotic and abiotic parameters influence decomposition rate, species richness and beetle abundance on aboveground exposed cadavers. Seven sampling events (days 2, 4, 6, 9, 16, 23, 30) were performed after the day of cadaver exposition (day 0). Scarabaeoids were collected using pitfall traps opened for 48 hours before each sampling event. On every event, pitfall traps were emptied. Consequently, over a time span of 48 hours, carcass visiting arthropods could be determined according to the sampling day. Specimens were preserved in 70 % ethanol and stored in urinary containers for later species determination and for counting of individuals. Additionally, pictures were taken to morphologically determine the decomposition stage of the piglet cadavers on each sampling day. Type: ND means not determined NA means not available Equipment: Datalogger (Thermochron iButton, Whithewater WI, USA) mounted inside of the wire cage (housing the piglet cadaver) for measuring the mean temperature during the whole exposition period from 04.08.2014 till 04.09.2014. Instruments: Spring scales for weighing the cadaver (Pesola, Macro Line, Baar, CH). Calibration: The datalogger recorded the ambient air temperature of the exposed piglet every 30 minutes. Acronyms: P: Piglet cadaver C: Control (pitfall trap without cadaver and without wire cage in 100 m distance to the exposed cadaver) #: Number of the cadavers and controls (1 to 25 in Schwäbische Alb, 26 to 50 in Hainich-Dün and 51 to 75 in Schorfheide-Chorin) Keywords: carrion decomposition, ecosystem service, forest understory, land use, Scarabaeoidea, vascular plant diversity Comment: Field work in August 2014, Lab work November 2014 - October 2015, 14 plots are not included in the dataset because of prohibition of plot entry on weekends or cadaver loss due to larger scavengers