Dung beetle resistance to desiccation varies within and among populations

The study of desiccation resistance and its underlying traits is key to understanding species responses changes in water availability, especially the context predicted increases frequency severity droughts due climate change. We performed laboratory experiments using dung beetles, important ecosystem service providers, investigate variations physiological within species, both at population individual levels. Desiccation resistance, loss tolerance content were measured lowland mountain populations whether vary (i) according elevation across four (ii) sex or male morphology (minor major morphs) two if these consistent species. Our results showed that beetles varies found varied between populations, but no differences for other such as tolerance. Moreover, females, minor males suggest females more resistant than minors majors, species-dependent. analysis hierarchical levels, population, emphasizes importance considering within-species variability predictions how may respond future climatic conditions. Predictions environmental change produce different conclusions they rely on observations from single take into account only a limited range phenotypes per population.