Species richness of dung-feeding beetles (Coleoptera: Aphodidae, Scarabaeidae, Hybosoridae) in tropical rainforest at Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia

This paper records the species richness and composition of the dung-feeding fauna within the Danum Valley Conservation Area in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Comparisons are made with other rainforest sites in the Neotropics, Africa, Asia and Australia. To date, ninety-seven rainforest dung beetle species have been identified from Danum samples, making this the most species-rich rainforest site yet recorded. Reasons for the high species richness measure are examined, including the comprehensive nature of the trapping programme, utilizing both baited pitfall and flight intercept traps, the resource diversity and abundance at Danum, and the presence of a rich vertebrate fauna. Comments are made on the effectiveness of the trapping programme, and the implications of these results for the measurement of species richness and diversity of other arthropod groups in tropical rainforest.