Abstract

TOVAR, Hernando L; ARI NORIEGA, Jorge  and  CARABALLO, Pedro. Ivermectin effect on the structure of the ensembles of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae-Scarabaeinae) in the Colombian savannahs of the Caribbean region. Actu Biol [online]. 2016, vol.38, n.105, pp.157-166. ISSN 0304-3584.  https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.acbi.v37n105a03.

Anti-parasite drugs as ivermectin are being used for internal and external parasites control in bovine cattle, without a scientific support that determined the effect on the structure, behavior or distribution of dung beetles. In this framework, an important problem emerge that consist of the lack of knowledge about which is the effect of using ivermectin in pastures when the populations of dung beetles decreases in dry periods, when the positive effect of rain disappear. Samplings were realized during three days, in four periods, between January and March of 2014, in a cattle property in the region Sabanas of the Sucre department in north of Colombia. Two pasture plots were monitored, one with animals treated with ivermectin (CIv) and another one with no treatment (SIv). The dung beetles were collected using 20 pitfall traps and 144 dung piles were reviewed directly. We estimated the effect of ivermectin and analyzed the relationship between precipitation and dungs abundance. 2.160 individuals belonging to four species from Aphodiinae and Scarabaeinae were collected, being the most abundant Ataenius cf. saulensis and Digitonthophagus gazella. We collect 55,3% individuals in CIv and 44,7% in SIv. Ataenius cf. saulensis and D. gazella were present in all periods and treatments. We found a positive correlation between precipitation and dungs abundance for the two treatments. Also it was found a slight attraction to piles and traps with ivermectin, demonstrating its negative effect on dung beetles. It is necessary to continue studying the effect of the use of ivermectin on functional processes on different ecosystems.

Keywords : abundance; cattle farm; Coleoptera; Colombia; dung piles; ivermectin; tropical dry forest.

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