Insect Ecology Lab, Natural History Museum, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia.
Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Agriculture and Forestry University, Bharatpur, Nepal.
Environ Entomol. 2021 Aug 12;50(4):762-780. doi: 10.1093/ee/nvab025.
Following the introduction of cattle, exotic dung beetles (Coleoptera: Aphodiidae, Geotrupidae, Scarabaeidae) were imported into the Antipodes (Australia and New Zealand) and North America (primarily the United States) to accelerate the degradation of cattle dung on pastures. The history of dung beetle introductions between the two regions is similar but has not previously been assessed: this is important as new introductions are continuing in the regions. Here, we review these introduction programs, report on their current status, and discuss methodological advances. In doing so, we examine the accidental introduction of exotic (i.e., adventive) species and the contribution of both deliberately introduced and adventive species to endemic dung beetle faunas. Further, we provide a list of pest and parasite species whose populations can be reduced by dung beetle activity. We also identify a combined total of 37 introduced and 47 adventive dung beetle species that have become established in the Antipodes and North America, with exotic species dominating dung beetle assemblages from pasture habitats. Climatic and edaphic matches, the size of founding populations, abiotic and biotic stressors, and the time of year when releases are made are all critical determinants that affect the success of dung beetle introduction programs. Finally, we discuss opportunities, plus the risks and challenges associated with dung beetle introductions. We hope that this review will aid in the success of future introduction programs, either to enhance ecosystem services in areas that they are needed, or potentially to reestablish native species in regions where they have been extirpated.
引进牛后，异域粪金龟（鞘翅目：粪金龟科、蜣螂科、金龟科）被引入到了澳洲（澳大利亚和新西兰）和北美（主要是美国），以加速牧场上牛的粪便降解。这两个地区的粪金龟引进历史相似，但以前没有进行过评估：由于这些地区仍在继续新的引进，因此这一点很重要。在这里，我们回顾了这些引进计划，报告了它们的现状，并讨论了方法上的进展。在这样做的过程中，我们检查了外来（即偶然）物种的意外引进以及故意引进和偶然引进的物种对本地粪金龟区系的贡献。此外，我们提供了一份可以通过粪金龟活动减少种群数量的害虫和寄生虫物种的清单。我们还确定了总共 37 种已在澳洲和北美建立种群的引进和 47 种偶然引进的粪金龟物种，其中外来物种在牧场景观中的粪金龟组合中占主导地位。气候和土壤匹配、初始种群规模、非生物和生物胁迫以及释放时间等都是影响粪金龟引进计划成功的关键决定因素。最后，我们讨论了粪金龟引进的机会，以及相关的风险和挑战。我们希望本综述将有助于未来引进计划的成功，无论是在需要的地方增强生态系统服务，还是在已经灭绝的地方重新引入本地物种。
