The effects of rainfall on the distribution and succession of adult beetle (Coleoptera) in bovine manure / by Cherie Pittillo Talley.
| Author/creator | Talley, Cherie Pittillo author. |
| Other author | McDaniel, Susan J., degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Biology. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 1981. |
| Description | 59 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Subject | Occurrence of beetles in bovine manure samples in an open pasture was ascertained after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h exposure. At each interval samples which received various amounts of water at different intervals and samples which received no water were investigated. Succession of adult beetles and the effects of artificial rainfall on the distribution of adult beetles were studied. Forty-six species of adult Cole̤ptera were recovered from March through May, 1974, from 276 bovine manure samples which included two species of Histeridae, 21 species of Staphylinidae, 15 species of Scarabaeidae, and eight species of Hydrophilidae. A total of 22,917 beetles were collected. Unlike results of other studies which were conducted during summer months, succession of adult coleopterans followed a different pattern during this spring study. Coprophagous hydrophilids increased in abundance from 24-96 h while the coprophagous scarabs decreased slightly from 24 h to 96 h. Predaceous staphylinids increased from 24 h to 72 h with a slight decrease at 96 h. The total population of histerids was small but the population showed a slight increase at 96 h. Statistical analyses showed no significant differences in effects of rainfall on the distribution and succession of adult beetles as hydrophilids increased from 24 to 96 h in each group of samples which received no rain or various amounts of rain. Cercyon sp. A was the most abundant hydrophilid. Staphylinids generally increased from 24 to 96 h with Platystethus americanus as the most abundant. Scarabs were distributed with a decrease from 24 - 96 h with Aphodius lividus as the most numerous species. Visual observations showed the manure samples did not form a crust in the early part of the study. This indicated that air- temperatures affected the evaporation rate by slowing down the process. Since the microhabitat did not change rapidly, the early-arriving hydrophilids and certain scarabs could remain longer and feed on the liquefied manure. If the dung emitted different odors at different ages and attracted different species, the occurrence pattern of arrival and departure for each species would be altered. All families had their peak densities during the latter part of this study. It is noteworthy the greatest peak of abundance for each family coincided with the warmest temperatures of the study whether or not the beetles were exposed to artificial rainfall. |
| General note | "Presented to the faculty of the Department of Biology ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Biology." |
| General note | Advisor: Susan J. McDaniel |
| Dissertation note | M.S. East Carolina University 1981 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 34-35). |
| Genre/form | dissertations. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |