Getting the most out of waste: how dung beetles boost the nitrogen content in their food. (27th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Madzivhe, Fhulufhedzani M.; Woolley, Christopher; Byrne, Marcus
• Is Part Of: Physiological entomology. Volume 46:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 16
• Page End: 23
• Publication Date: 2020-10-27
• Subjects: Dung -- dung beetles -- nitrogen -- nutrient -- particle size -- selective feeding; Insects -- Physiology -- Periodicals; 571.157
• DOI: 10.1111/phen.12336
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0307-6962

Abstract

Abstract: The life cycle of almost all dung beetles revolve around mammalian dung, the feed on dung, look for mating partners on dung and lay eggs in the dung. We know they feed on dung, but we still do not understand how exactly they filter‐feed on the dung and which particles size range they are ingesting. The aim on this study was to investigate the filter feeding by particle selection by adult dung beetles using Scarabaeus goryi and how that improves the nutrient quality of the ingested particles. We compared the particle sizes and nutrient content of the dung with the ingested material in the foregut, hindgut and the faeces of the dung beetle. Adult dung beetles do select smaller dung particles when feeding, we found the maximum particle size for the ingested particle to be around 1400 μm. The average particle size increased through the gut length. Dung beetles also selected particles with higher nitrogen content when feeding, the nitrogen content increased from about 1.5% in the dung to just over 5% in the foregut which then decreased to the level of the unprocessed dung in the dung beetle faeces. Carbon content did not increase from the unprocessed dung to the foregut but decreased through the gut length. Feeding by particle size selection by dung beetles helps in selecting particles with higher nitrogen content to compensate for the low levels found in dung. Abstract : For the first time, we measured the particle sizes and nutrient content of the dung in the gut of dung beetles and the dung beetle faeces. We confirmed that dung beetles do select smaller particles in the dung when they are filter feeding. Through this filter feeding, the smaller particles selected have about 5% more nitrogen than the dung they are feeding on.