Southern Ecuador is a highly diverse area with a high rate of endemism, that despite latest efforts, it is still understudied (Cuesta et al. 2013). It especially lacks research on soil microorganisms and invertebrates (Salazar & Donoso 2014). Soil diversity studies are needed to generate restoration strategies of fragile ecosystems to guarantee their long-term functionality. This study focuses on dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), their intestinal microbiota, and soil bacteria in three spots of Loja and Zamora Chinchipe provinces in southern Ecuador: Finca Experimental El Padmi, Reserva Madrigal del Podocarpus, and Reserva Tapichalaca. Each area has four levels of degradation: primary forest, forest under restoration, grassland in restoration and surrounding cattle pasture. The goal is to understand which traits are lost on degraded areas to recommend landscape restoration strategies managing dung beetles and bacteria ecosystem services for soil regeneration. For dung beetle inventory, baited pitfall traps were placed along 250 m linear transects at each degradation level, with three spatial and temporal repetitions. For bacterial sampling, 10×10 m soil plots were placed, mixed soil samples were taken; in these plots dung beetles were also collected for microbiota studies. Protocols were developed for bacterial cultures from soil and dung beetles’ intestines. Bacterial strains are being identified through biochemical characterization and, in the near future, samples will be sequenced for DNA 16s. Dung beetle diversity analyses were performed; to compare scarab communities among degradation gradients, and similarity-based methods were implemented.
To evaluate pressures over dung beetles from livestock management interviews with farmers were conducted. Ecosystem services of dung beetles and bacteria are documented to understand their restoration potential. Forty dung beetle species were identified; some species show fidelity to preserved forests, others inhabit areas in all levels of degradation, and others are dominant in degraded areas. Mobility capacity was also measured in one sampled species, it was found that they move an average of 130 m but can reach distances of at least 1.4 km, showing great potential to become vectors of beneficial bacteria into degraded soils. Pressures in cattle pasture include soil compaction, incorrect use of antiparasitic drugs, unawareness of ecosystem services of dung beetles, among others. Near 120 bacterial strains were isolated from dung beetles’ intestines, and 112 from soil. Some strains are shared by dung beetles from different degraded level areas, others are exclusive from the preserved forest or degraded areas. Soil bacterial strains also show differences in species composition between degradation levels. This study has great potential for soil regeneration in southern Ecuador.
