Interactions Between Individuals and Sex Rather Than Morphological Traits Drive Intraspecific Dung Removal in Two Dung Beetle Species

Dung beetle functional ecology has traditionally focused on studying the relation between traits and ecosystem functions in multispecies assemblages, often ignoring contribution of behavioral interactions trait variability within species. Here we focus factors that affect dung removal at an intraspecific level two horned species with dimorphic males ( Onthophagus taurus verticicornis ). By setting treatments for each single individuals (one female, F; one major male, M; minor m) or pairs (MF, mF, MM, mm, FF), examined effect morphological (head, pronotum, leg, horn), sex, individuals. Our results showed depended more sex than underlying traits, whose effects were negligible. Single females generally removed males, which suggests are effective males. In both species, least female FF) high efficiency, but did not perform differently from sum (M + F, m f, F F). This additive effect: (or females) join their efforts when they together. The only (MM mm) less M m), indicates a mutual inhibition male morphs performed similarly as same amount dung. Despite our limited to suggest beetles might be influenced by rather traits.