Evidence for differential diel activity patterns in two co-occurring species of burying beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae: Nicrophorinae)

Authors

Lindsey M. Cook, Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UTFollow
Ashlee N. Smith, Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UTFollow
Peter J. Meyers, Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT; Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, INFollow
J. Curtis Creighton, Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, Northwest, Hammond, INFollow
Mark C. Belk, Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UTFollow

Abstract

Multiple mechanisms have been suggested to facilitate coexistence among species of burying beetles, including differential use of habitat and food resources. Nicrophorus marginatus and Nicrophorus guttula are similarly sized burying beetles that co-occur in many parts of their range. We used observations to quantify and compare their diel activity patterns and tested for possible niche partitioning between the species. We monitored activity of individuals of each species over four 24-h periods. Both species exhibit bimodal activity patterns with peaks of activity in the morning and evening. Nicrophorus guttula is active earlier in the morning and later in the evening than N. marginatus. This difference suggests possible temporal niche partitioning and may represent an important mechanism for the coexistence of these burying beetle species.


Se han sugerido múltiples mecanismos, para facilitar la coexistencia entre las especies de escarabajos enterradores, entre los que incluyen el uso diferencial del hábitat y de los recursos alimenticios. Nicrophorus marginatus y Nicrophorus guttula son escarabajos enterradores de tamaño similar que coexisten dentro de su rango de distribución. Por medio de observaciones cuantificamos y comparamos los patrones de actividad, y analizamos posibles divisiones de nichos entre las especies. Monitoreamos la actividad de los individuos de cada especie durante cuatro períodos de 24 horas. Ambas especies mostraron patrones de actividad bimodales con picos de actividad en la mañana y en la tarde. El escarabajo Nicrophorus guttula es más activo a principios de la mañana y al final de la tarde que N. marginatus. Esta diferencia indica una posible división temporal de nichos, pudiendo representar un mecanismo importante para la coexistencia de estas especies de escarabajos enterradores.

Recommended Citation

Cook, Lindsey M.; Smith, Ashlee N.; Meyers, Peter J.; Creighton, J. Curtis; and Belk, Mark C. (2019) "Evidence for differential diel activity patterns in two co-occurring species of burying beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae: Nicrophorinae)," Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 79: No. 2, Article 12.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol79/iss2/12