Stanbrook, Roisin (2018) The scarabaeidae dung beetles of the Aberdare National Park, Republic of Kenya: ecosystem services and factors affecting diversity and abundance. Doctoral thesis (PhD), Manchester Metropolitan University. Downloaded from: https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/621286/ Usage rights: Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial-No Deriva- tive Works 4.0 Please cite the published version https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk THE SCARABAEIDAE DUNG BEETLES OF THE ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK, REPUBLIC OF KENYA: ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND FACTORS AFFECTING DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE. Roisin Stanbrook Division of Biology and Conservation Ecology School of Science and the Environment Manchester Metropolitan University A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the Requirements of the Manchester Metropolitan University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy June 2018 DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis to my Grandmothers, who each in their own way inspired me to succeed and follow my dreams. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This thesis would not have been possible without the help of numerous friends and colleagues both in the UK and in Kenya. Darren Mann at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History kindly spent hours and in some cases, days, helping me understand the intricacies of East African dung beetle identification. Much of this project would be rendered impossible without his help and support throughout the years. I will miss our late-night discussions, and dung beetle genitalia extractions accompanied by super strong coffee, cherry tobacco and Peruvian panpipe music. I can only hope that in some small way I can continue to inspire the next generation of dung beetle ecologists with the same enthusiasm and patience that Darren has shown me. Thanks must also go to my friends and colleagues at the National Museums Kenya in Nairobi who ensured my export permits were issued every year without delay. Special thanks must go to Reuban Mwajuma who provided me with a trustworthy field vehicle and in one instance drove all night with a spare part, then turned back around to Nairobi before daybreak to make sure I could continue fieldwork without delay. Asante Reuban! My supervisors Martin Jones, Ed Harris, and Phil Wheater have helped and encouraged me along this sometimes rocky journey to completion. I thank them all for their dedication and for seeing the potential in me, which at times I must admit was only apparent to them. Dr Liz Price, Dr Neil Cresswell, and Professor Stuart Marsden provided much of the financial support for the final years of this project. I thank you all for your benevolence and hope you can see your investments were worthwhile. This PhD has taught me many things but has reinforced in me the belief that the world is run on the small acts of kindness we commit daily. Lastly, I wish to thank and apologize to my friends and family who tolerated my extended periods of absence when I was off conducting fieldwork in Kenya, too busy with work in the UK, or mentally absent but in the same room, dreaming of dung beetles. The future starts here. v DECLARATION This dissertation is the result of my own work and includes nothing, which is the outcome of work done in collaboration except where specifically indicated in the text. It has not been previously submitted, in part or whole, to any university of institution for any degree, diploma, or other qualification. Signed:______Roisin Stanbrook__________________________________________________ Date:_______11th May 2018__________________________________________________ vi PUBLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS THESIS Roggero, A., Stanbrook, R., Josso, J-F., Barbero, E., Palestrini C (2017) Phylogenetic relationships of Epidrepanus within the subtribe Drepanocerina (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Oniticellini), with the description of two new species. Zootaxa, 4320 (1), 1-24. Stanbrook, R., Raisin, C., Vulinec, K. (2017) Observations on the Tunneling Behavior and Seed Dispersal Efficacy of Copris nubilosus (Kohlmann) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae: Coprini). The Coleopterists Bulletin 74 (1), 1-4. Stanbrook, R. (2018) Assessing the nutrient status of forest elephants in the Aberdares NP, Kenya. Pachyderm 59:19-25. Manuscripts in review Chapter 4: Stanbrook, R., Wafula, G.W., Jones, M.J., Harris, W.E. ‘Experimental estimate of soil nutrient exchange in an Afrotropical high elevation forest: the role of dung beetle community complexity’ Acta Oeceologica Manuscripts in preparation Stanbrook, R., Josso, J-F. Descriptions of two new Kenyan dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) and notes on their distribution. Catharsius La Revue vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 21 1.1 Background .............................................................................................................. 21 1.1.1 Functional Guilds .......................................................................................................... 22 1.1.2 Effects of climate change on Afrotropical insects ........................................................ 23 1.1.3 Dung Beetles in African Tropical Forests ...................................................................... 25 1.1.4 Dung beetle response to Habitat Change ..................................................................... 25 1.2 Study Aim and Objectives ......................................................................................... 27 1.3 Thesis Structure ....................................................................................................... 28 2 CHAPTER 2: STUDY SITE AND GENERAL METHODS ........................................................ 30 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 30 2.2 Aberdare National park ............................................................................................ 30 2.2.1 Geography, Topography and Rivers.............................................................................. 30 2.2.2 Vegetation ..................................................................................................................... 31 2.2.3 Ecosystem services ....................................................................................................... 34 2.2.4 Climate .......................................................................................................................... 35 2.2.5 Protected Area Status ................................................................................................... 36 2.3 Dung beetles of the Aberdare NP .............................................................................. 37 2.3.1 Study Species, Functional Guilds and Communities ..................................................... 37 viii 2.4 Mammals of the Aberdare NP .................................................................................. 39 2.5 Study Design ............................................................................................................ 39 2.5.1 Transect Site Selection .................................................................................................. 40 2.5.2 Study Timeframe ........................................................................................................... 42 2.6 Dung beetle data ...................................................................................................... 42 2.6.1 Baited pit-fall trapping .................................................................................................. 43 2.6.2 Light trapping ................................................................................................................ 43 2.6.3 Manual Collecting ......................................................................................................... 43 2.7 Mammal Data .......................................................................................................... 43 2.7.1 Camera Traps ................................................................................................................ 43 2.7.2 Dung and Signs .............................................................................................................. 44 2.8 Vegetation Data ....................................................................................................... 44 2.9 Data Analysis and Management ............................................................................... 45 2.10 Statistical Analysis .................................................................................................... 46 2.10.1 Timelapse2 ................................................................................................................ 46 2.10.2 Spatial Analysis .......................................................................................................... 46 3 THE ROLE OF VEGETATION AND ALTITUDE IN SHAPING COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF DUNG BEETLES IN MONTANE AFROTROPICAL FOREST .......................................................... 48 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 48 3.2 Methods .................................................................................................................. 51 3.2.1 Pitfall traps .................................................................................................................... 51 3.2.2 Vegetation Data ...........................................................................................................