TROPHIC CONNECTIONS OF DUNG BEETLES (COLEOPTERA, SCARABAEOIDEA) IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST

The analysis of dung beetles associated with mammal excrement in the Russian Far East was conducted. It was revealed that the greatest number of species was noted in the excrement of cows (93) and horses (78), and the least in the excrement of predatory animals and wild boar (21 and 22 species, respectively). A wide food specialization of dung beetles of the Russian Far East, including both wild and farm animal excrement, was noted for 55 species, or 57.89% of the analyzed list of species. Specialized species, currently known from only one type of mammal excrement, make up only 7.37% of the analyzed list of species. Food specialization associated only with farm animals was noted for 21 species (or 22.11%); these species are able to live mainly on pastures of cows, horses and sheep (found in the excrement of 2–-3 animal species). The analysis of the distribution matrix of dung beetle species by their presence in food substrates demonstrated a high share of originality in cow and horse droppings and the banality of the species composition of beetles found in the droppings of predatory animals, bears, wild boars and humans. The species lists of the studied group of beetles in the latter types of substrates are almost completely included in those in the droppings of cows and horses. The species composition of beetles noted in the droppings of sheep and deer occupies an intermediate position. On the one hand, it is richer and more original than the droppings of predatory animals and wild boars, and on the other hand, it is significantly poorer and more banal than cows and horses. The revealed features of the distribution of dung beetles in the droppings of various animals can be associated with the physicochemical properties of the substrate and the historical processes of fauna formation.