Negative Impacts of Anthropogenic Disturbances on the Community Structure of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in Namibia

Mukendwa Hosticks Ndozi, Linnet Gohole and Isaac Mapaure
Additional contact information
Mukendwa Hosticks Ndozi: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eldoret, Kenya Department of Wildlife Management and Tourism Studies, University of Namibia, Namibia
Linnet Gohole: School of Agriculture & Biotechnology, University of Eldoret, Kenya
Isaac Mapaure: Office of the Vice Chancellor, International University of Management, Windhoek, Namibia

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science, 2025, vol. 10, issue 1, 63-74

Abstract: Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) are a distinctive group of insects that are specialized in utilizing mammalian dung. They play a critical role in the ecosystem by decomposing dung, dispersing seeds, suppressing parasites, and cycling nutrients. Anthropogenic activities such as agriculture, land modification, fragmentation, road construction, and desertification have threatened dung beetles despite their roles in the ecosystem. Anthropogenic activities have a negative effect on dung beetle species diversity and composition. Namibia has been experiencing different types of land degradation, such as soil erosion, deforestation, bush encroachment, land conversion through agricultural activities, and sand mining, which have a greater effect on the species diversity and structure of dung beetles. In Namibia, there is a gap in quantitative research on the impact of anthropogenic activities on dung beetles; such a database is crucial for conservation purposes. Researchers have extensively used dung beetles to evaluate the assemblage structure, ecosystem function, and taxonomy of biodiversity.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijrias/ ... 10-issue-1/63-74.pdf (application/pdf)
https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijrias/arti ... abaeinae-in-namibia/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bjf:journl:v:10:y:2025:i:1:p:63-74

Access Statistics for this article

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science is currently edited by Dr. Renu Malsaria

More articles in International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science from International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS)
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Dr. Renu Malsaria ().