<p>Cattle farming is a major activity in the Lower Paraná River Delta of Argentina, a wetland of high biodiversity and ecological importance. This study assessed the effects of hydrological management and ivermectin use on coleopterans present in dung (Scarabaeidae and other dung associated taxa) in cattle fields, considering seasonal variation. Coleopterans were sampled in fields with low (LHM) and high (HHM) hydrological management, with and without reported ivermectin application to cattle, and across seasons over the course of a year. Taxonomic and functional diversity metrics were compared, and community composition was evaluated. Species richness was higher in LHM fields, indicating that maintaining natural flood regimes benefits dung-associated Coleoptera assemblages. Paracoprid specialists declined in HHM fields, while generalist species were more prevalent under HHM. Although ivermectin application did not show statistically significant effects, lower abundance of dung specialists and higher abundance and richness of predatory taxa were found in treated fields. Seasonal effects were strong, with diversity peaking in spring-summer and declining in winter, interacting with management practices to influence community structure. Results highlight the role of dung-associated coleopterans as bioindicators of environmental change in wetlands and the potential ecological alterations of hydrological management and ivermectin use in cattle farming. Sustainable practices, such as maintaining hydrological connectivity and minimizing antiparasitic use during seasonal reproductive periods, are essential to preserve wetland integrity, support dung-associated Coleoptera diversity, and sustain the ecosystem services they provide.</p>

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Effects of Hydrological Management, Ivermectin Use and Seasonality on the Diversity of Dung-Associated Coleopterans in Wetlands of the Lower Paraná River Delta, Argentina

  • Valentina Fernández,
  • Analía Soledad Nanni,
  • Laura Mariel Calfayan,
  • Emiliano Boné,
  • María Fernanda Hernández Guerra,
  • Daniel Campbell,
  • Valeria Sfara

摘要

Cattle farming is a major activity in the Lower Paraná River Delta of Argentina, a wetland of high biodiversity and ecological importance. This study assessed the effects of hydrological management and ivermectin use on coleopterans present in dung (Scarabaeidae and other dung associated taxa) in cattle fields, considering seasonal variation. Coleopterans were sampled in fields with low (LHM) and high (HHM) hydrological management, with and without reported ivermectin application to cattle, and across seasons over the course of a year. Taxonomic and functional diversity metrics were compared, and community composition was evaluated. Species richness was higher in LHM fields, indicating that maintaining natural flood regimes benefits dung-associated Coleoptera assemblages. Paracoprid specialists declined in HHM fields, while generalist species were more prevalent under HHM. Although ivermectin application did not show statistically significant effects, lower abundance of dung specialists and higher abundance and richness of predatory taxa were found in treated fields. Seasonal effects were strong, with diversity peaking in spring-summer and declining in winter, interacting with management practices to influence community structure. Results highlight the role of dung-associated coleopterans as bioindicators of environmental change in wetlands and the potential ecological alterations of hydrological management and ivermectin use in cattle farming. Sustainable practices, such as maintaining hydrological connectivity and minimizing antiparasitic use during seasonal reproductive periods, are essential to preserve wetland integrity, support dung-associated Coleoptera diversity, and sustain the ecosystem services they provide.