Exposure to low concentrations of pesticide stimulates ecological functioning in the dung beetle Onthophagus nuchicornis.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Manning P
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7690291 | biostudies-literature | 2020
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Exposure to low concentrations of pesticide stimulates ecological functioning in the dung beetle <i>Onthophagus nuchicornis</i>.
Manning Paul P Cutler G Christopher GC
PeerJ 20201123
Body-size is an important trait for predicting how species contribute to ecosystem functions and respond to environmental stress. Using the dung beetle <i>Onthophagus nuchicornis</i> (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), we explored how variation in body-size affected ecosystem functioning (dung burial) and sensitivity to an environmental stressor (exposure to the veterinary anthelmintic ivermectin). We found that large beetles buried nearly 1.5-fold more dung than small beetles, but that mortality from e ...[more]
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