Dung beetles are important ecosystem engineers as they bury manure produced by animals and contribute to nutrient cycling. This study assessed the impact of four dung beetle species, a roller (Gymnopleurus sturmi) and three tunnelers (Onthophagus vacca, Onthophagus marginalis subsp. andalusicus and Euonthophagus crocatus), on manure removal and soil fertility by using microcosms in a greenhouse setting. The four species contributed significantly to the removal of manure from the soil surface and increased the nutrient content of the soil, notably potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen, but the amount varied depending on the species. These results highlight the importance of dung beetles in facilitating soil organic matter and nutrient flows and the need to preserve their populations to support the sustainability of grazing systems.

This study examined the impact of dung beetles on both sorghum growth and the physico-chemical properties of the soil over a two-month period. Four dung beetle species (Onthophagus vacca, Onthophagus marginalis subsp. andalusicus, Euonthophagus crocatus, and Gymnopleurus sturmi) were introduced into experimental setups, consisting of containers filled with sterilised clay-loam soil, with three treatment groups: [cow dung + beetles], [cow dung only], and a control group (no dung nor beetles), in order to evaluate their effects on various growth parameters, including the plant height, biomass, leaf area, and chlorophyll concentration. Additionally, changes in soil properties were assessed, focusing on the organic matter content, pH, conductivity, enzyme activities (e.g., urease, phosphatase), and microbial load. The results revealed significant increases in all the measured parameters across the treatments involving dung beetles, emphasising their role in enhancing soil fertility and plant productivity. The study also highlights the variation in effectiveness among the species, suggesting that beetle diversity plays a crucial role in nutrient cycling. Integrating dung beetles into sustainable farming practices could, therefore, serve as a key strategy to promote resilient agriculture.

Dung beetles feed on and bury animal droppings, and their role is crucial in reducing the accumulation of manure, which diminishes the useful surface area of pastures. The aim of this research was to characterize the seasonal organization of dung beetle communities (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco in terms of core and satellite species. The beetles were collected using standard dung-baited traps. Four sites along a gradient of elevation were surveyed for one year every 7 to 10 days, depending on the season and local weather conditions. A total of 24,397 beetles were collected, belonging to 51 species. In most dung beetle communities, two to three species were found to be predominant, representing between 70 and 95% of all the individuals active at the same time but constituting only 10 to 30% of species diversity. The rapid succession of species at the same site limits the competition between species, allowing for the efficient use of available trophic resources.

Dung beetles are important ecosystem engineers, as they utilize the excrement produced by animals. For nearly 60 years, several species of dung beetle have been introduced to Australia to help mitigate the problems caused by the accumulation of livestock dung. The twenty-three successfully established species directly contribute to reducing the environmental impacts from dung accumulation, providing improvements to soil health, pasture productivity and pest fly reduction. Despite this success, there are still geographical and seasonal gaps in dung beetle activity, causing dung to remain on the soil surface. The continued importation of new dung beetle species is warranted to fill these gaps. One of the significant remaining gaps is during spring in southern Australia. Four spring-active dung species from Morocco were selected for a new importation program (2018–2022): Euonthophagus crocatus, Onthophagus vacca, Onthophagus marginalis subsp. andalusicus and Gymnopleurus sturmi. These species were surveyed at four sites in Morocco on an altitudinal gradient to assess their seasonal activity. The four species were found at all sites during spring, but in varying abundances, with different species dominating different sites. This is most likely due to differences in local conditions such as soil type. Seasonal activity varied depending on elevation. Gymnopleurus sturmi was found to be active later in the season and should be considered as a summer species. The four species selected will be, if they establish, a useful addition to the already introduced and established dung beetle fauna in Australia.