The altitudinal gradient in diversity of dung beetles (Scarabaeidae) was studied in a Mediterranean mountain chain located in Central Anatolia to (i) determine if there are altitudinal differences between the main taxonomic groups, (ii) describe the seasonal variations in these assemblages and (iii) assess whether closed habitats influence dung beetle diversity differentially at different altitudes. Beetles were collected throughout a year at 14 localities between 469 and 1810 m above sea level in three different types of habitats. Dung beetle assemblages at 400 to 1200 m did not vary greatly in species richness, abundance and biomass. However, they varied in composition, with the assemblages dominated by species of Scarabaeinae up to 900 m, whereas in the mid-mountain assemblages (from 900 m to 1600 m) the numbers of species of Aphodiinae was higher. The decline with increase in altitude in richness, abundance and biomass of both small and large species of Scarabaeinae up to 1500 m, together with the constancy of these parameters in the case of Aphodiinae, accounts for the changes in the composition from the lowland to mid-mountain localities. Unlike at other Mediterranean localities, the open/closed structure of the habitat only slightly influences these assemblages independently of altitude or season. The general seasonal pattern follows the classical Mediterranean bimodal pattern associated with summer drought, but the patterns are more complex when the seasonal responses of the different groups and at different localities are analysed separately. We propose that the interplay between local climatic conditions (mainly temperature) and evolutionary conserved species preferences accounts for both the current seasonal and altitudinal gradients and the changes in species composition in terms of Aphodiinae and Scarabaeinae.
We compared the larval morphology of the genera Ataenius and Aphodius. The third larval instars of five Ataenius species: Ataenius opatrinus Harold, A. picinus Harold, A. platenis (Blanchard), A. simulator Harold and A. strigicauda Bates, are described or redescribed and illustrated. The most important morphological characteristics of the larvae of Ataenius are found in the respiratory plate of thoracic spiracle, the setation of venter of the last abdominal segment, the setation of the epicranial region and the morphology of the epipharynx. A key to larvae of the known species of Ataenius is included.
The New World genus Ataeniopsis Petrovitz, 1973 is revised. Fifteen species are recognized including three new species: Ataeniopsis carupanoi sp. n. from Venezuela, A. jaltipani sp. n. from Mexico and A. vinacoensis sp. n. from Argentina. Lectotype of A. haroldi (Steinheil, 1872) is designated, the name of type species A. notabilis Petrovitz, 1973 is reestablished, five species are given in a new combination. The taxa are diagnosed, keyed and illustrated, and biological information and distribution data summarized following the species descriptions. A hypothetical phylogenetic analysis of Ataeniopsis based on cladistic analysis is presented.