Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoideae) between a natural forest and a reforested steppe (Djelfa, Algeria)

Volume: 17 May 10, 2016
  • Sabrina Amraoui
  • Nadia Bouragba
  • Ahmed Brague
  • Jean-pierre Lumaret
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Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoideae) between a natural forest and a reforested steppe (Djelfa, Algeria)

Abstract

Steppe ecosystems are characterized by significant biological diversity, and this is the result of a long adaptation process to difficult agro-climatic conditions. Feces of large or small herbivorous animals must be destroyed to be recycled. This process is involving the activity of various soil organisms. Among the most active insects are Scarabaeoidea. Our study was conducted in two grazed ecosystems in djelfa pasture, situated in the semi-arid region; the first one is a pinewood forest, located in the Senalba. The second one is an Aleppo pine reforested stand, part of the Green Dam that was launched decades ago to stop desertification. Dung beetles were captured using baited pitfall traps during the period 2009-2010. 1435 beetles belonging to 42 species were trapped. The faunas of senalba and of Moudjbara were compared. The fauna in the reforested stand is poorer than the one of the natural forest. The natural forest might provide favorable microclimatic conditions for some species such as Chironitis furcifer, Aphodius fimetarius and A. felscheanus. Results showed a significant seasonal variation in the composition, and diversity. There were four periods of activity during the course of the year. Temporal turnover was highest in September and in February, Dungs beetle dominate during summer and autumn in Moudjbara while in the Sénalba they dominate during autumn and winter. This study reveals that natural forest is the most suitable habitat to the installation Scarabaeidae unlike reforestation, this could be the result of a limited grazing in the reforested steppe. Keywords: Scarabaeoidea, Pinewood forest, Reforested steppe

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Primary Language

English

Subjects

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Journal Section

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Authors

Sabrina Amraoui This is me

Nadia Bouragba This is me

Ahmed Brague This is me

Jean-pierre Lumaret This is me

Publication Date

May 10, 2016

Submission Date

April 21, 2016

Acceptance Date

-

Published in Issue

Year 2016 Volume: 17

APA
Amraoui, S., Bouragba, N., Brague, A., & Lumaret, J.- pierre. (2016). Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoideae) between a natural forest and a reforested steppe (Djelfa, Algeria). Turkish Journal of Forestry, 17, 23-30. https://doi.org/10.18182/tjf.68167
AMA
1.Amraoui S, Bouragba N, Brague A, Lumaret J pierre. Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoideae) between a natural forest and a reforested steppe (Djelfa, Algeria). Turkish Journal of Forestry. 2016;17:23-30. doi:10.18182/tjf.68167
Chicago
Amraoui, Sabrina, Nadia Bouragba, Ahmed Brague, and Jean-pierre Lumaret. 2016. “Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoideae) Between a Natural Forest and a Reforested Steppe (Djelfa, Algeria)”. Turkish Journal of Forestry 17 (May): 23-30. https://doi.org/10.18182/tjf.68167.
EndNote
Amraoui S, Bouragba N, Brague A, Lumaret J- pierre (May 1, 2016) Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoideae) between a natural forest and a reforested steppe (Djelfa, Algeria). Turkish Journal of Forestry 17 23–30.
IEEE
[1]S. Amraoui, N. Bouragba, A. Brague, and J.- pierre Lumaret, “Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoideae) between a natural forest and a reforested steppe (Djelfa, Algeria)”, Turkish Journal of Forestry, vol. 17, pp. 23–30, May 2016, doi: 10.18182/tjf.68167.
ISNAD
Amraoui, Sabrina - Bouragba, Nadia - Brague, Ahmed - Lumaret, Jean-pierre. “Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoideae) Between a Natural Forest and a Reforested Steppe (Djelfa, Algeria)”. Turkish Journal of Forestry 17 (May 1, 2016): 23-30. https://doi.org/10.18182/tjf.68167.
JAMA
1.Amraoui S, Bouragba N, Brague A, Lumaret J- pierre. Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoideae) between a natural forest and a reforested steppe (Djelfa, Algeria). Turkish Journal of Forestry. 2016;17:23–30.
MLA
Amraoui, Sabrina, et al. “Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoideae) Between a Natural Forest and a Reforested Steppe (Djelfa, Algeria)”. Turkish Journal of Forestry, vol. 17, May 2016, pp. 23-30, doi:10.18182/tjf.68167.
Vancouver
1.Sabrina Amraoui, Nadia Bouragba, Ahmed Brague, Jean-pierre Lumaret. Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoideae) between a natural forest and a reforested steppe (Djelfa, Algeria). Turkish Journal of Forestry. 2016 May 1;17:23-30. doi:10.18182/tjf.68167

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