Possible indirect effects of mammal hunting on dung beetle assemblages in Panama

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Andresen, Ellen;Laurance, Susan
Abstract

Hunting often impacts rain forest mammal communities but little is known about its indirect effects on other taxa. We examined dung beetle assemblages using pitfall and flight-intercept traps at six rain forest sites in Panama that ranged in hunting intensity. Heavily hunted sites showed altered community composition, significantly fewer species (based on rarefaction), and lower abundances of dung beetles than did sites with little hunting. Our results suggest that intensive hunting affects nontarget forest taxa and is potentially altering ecosystem functioning.

Journal

Biotropica

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N/A

Volume

39

ISBN/ISSN

1744-7429

Edition

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Issue

1

Pages Count

6

Location

N/A

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Publisher Url

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Publisher Location

N/A

Publish Date

N/A

Url

N/A

Date

N/A

EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1111/j.1744-7429.2006.00239.x