Big dung beetles dig deeper: trait-based consequences for faecal parasite transmission. Issue 2 (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gregory, Nichar; Gómez, Andrés; Oliveira, Trícia Maria F. de S.; Nichols, Elizabeth
• Is Part Of: International journal for parasitology. Volume 45:Issue 2/3(2015)
• Page Start: 101
• Page End: 105
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Scarabaeinae -- Disease -- Parasite ecology -- Macroparasite -- Ecosystem function -- Ecosystem services -- Helminth -- Livestock; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasitologie -- Périodiques; Parasitology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 571.999
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.10.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7519

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Dung beetle burial of infected faeces is known to decrease larval parasite emergence. We characterised correlates of per capita burial depth for 25 beetle communities. Larger-bodied species and female beetles dig the deepest tunnels. Infection status influences faeces burial depth: highly infected beetles dig less deep. Infection, demography and traits impact epidemiologically-relevant beetle activity. Abstract: Observational evidence suggests that burial of faeces by dung beetles negatively influences the transmission of directly transmitted gastrointestinal helminths. However, the mechanistic basis for these interactions is poorly characterised, limiting our ability to understand relationships between beetle community composition and helminth transmission. We demonstrate that beetle body size and sex significantly impact tunnel depth, a key variable affecting parasite survival. Additionally, high parasite loads reduce the depth of beetle faeces burial, suggesting that the local prevalence of parasites infecting beetles may impact beetle ecosystem function. Our study represents a first step towards a mechanistic understanding of a potentially epidemiologically relevant ecosystem function.