The importance of sites and management of pastures on the community structure of coprophagous beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae)

On pastures near Freiburg, Germany, the sheep-dung and cattle-dung beetle communities did not differ or differed only slightly in their diversities and densities, although many species preferred 1 of the 2 dung types. On a pure sheep pasture, even those species were abundant which preferred cow dung to sheep dung. Pastures at sun-exposed sites with permanent grazing periods are recommended for effective conservation of dung beetle communities. Dung beetle conservation does not interfere with landscape protection by extensive sheep grazing, since sheep dung proved to be a sufficient resource for nutrition and larval development of many dung beetles (e.g. Aphodius spp. and Onthophagus spp.).