Breeding ecology of the rainforest dung beetle Cephalodesmius armiger (Scarabaeidae) in Tooloom National Park
Elizabeth A. Dalgleish A B and Mark A. Elgar A CA Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.
B Present address: Native Title Unit, Department of Justice, 55 St Andrews Place, East Melbourne, Vic. 3001, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: m.elgar@unimelb.edu.au
Australian Journal of Zoology 53(2) 95-102 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO04067
Submitted: 21 September 2004 Accepted: 3 February 2005 Published: 6 April 2005
Abstract
The ecology of the rainforest dung beetle Cephalodesmius armiger was investigated in Tooloom National Park, within the high-altitude rainforest of north-east New South Wales. We observed considerable overlap in the brood-rearing stages of the breeding cycle. The operational sex ratio was female-biased. Biparental care is provided in this species, but it is not obligatory; females reared one brood either in partnership with a male or alone, and males did or did not pair with a female and rear a brood. There was spatial variation in the density of burrows. The availability of brood-burrows for brood rearing appears to be limited and evidence of the recycling of brood-burrows was collected for the first time. We suggest that the temporal variation in the breeding cycle arises from individual variation in the development and degeneration of the reproductive organs, rather than ecological factors favouring burrow and larder preparation. The female-biased operation sex ratio may result in males being more selective in their choice of mates than females and less committed to brood rearing.
Acknowledgments
We thank John Alcock, Cybele Heddle, Mariella Herberstein, Peter Dwyer, Therésa Jones, Mick Keough, Michael Magrath, Angus Martin, Deidre Mattiske, Natasha McLean, Monica Minnegal, Geoff Monteith, Chris Nave, Jutta Schneider, Melissa Thomas and especially John Wright for their thoughtful insights and comments. We also appreciate the help provided in the field by Michael and Grant Wolstenholme, Beverley and Russell Robertson, Ron Dalgleish, Yasmine and Kai Jade, Ian and Mary Dalgleish, Jean and Les Bennett, Bob Tenner and the residents of Urbenville. The University of Melbourne and the Australian Research Council (grant A19802502) provided financial support.
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