Short- and long-term dynamics of taxonomic and functional diversities of dung beetles in an urbanized landscape of the Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract Urbanization alters the ecological dynamics of greenspace sites by filtering species and their traits, ultimately reducing community differentiation and driving biodiversity homogenization. We assessed short- and long-term changes in the taxonomic and functional diversity of dung beetles in urban greenspaces of the Brazilian Cerrado. Dung beetles were sampled annually in the same sites during two three-year periods (2013–14-15 and 2023–24-25). A total of 4,333 individuals from 32 species were collected: 1,012 individuals (21 species) in the first period and 3,321 (25 species) in the second. Species richness varied among years but not between periods, whereas abundance increased 3.3-fold in the second period. Functional richness declined by nearly 40% between 2013 and 2025, functional evenness decreased significantly across years and periods, while functional divergence remained stable. Taxonomic beta diversity was lower in the second period, with species replacement increasing between periods but declining within them. Functional beta diversity showed no overall differences, though functional replacement rose between periods and fell within the second. Beta diversity was strongly shaped by extirpations and colonizations, with incidence-based changes exceeding abundance-based ones. Within-period shifts were more pronounced, initially driven by colonization of frequent species, and later by extirpations of common and colonization of rare species. Overall, dung beetle communities in urban greenspaces exhibited dynamic shifts, with abundance gains and long-term reductions in functional and taxonomic distinctiveness. These findings stress that conserving or restoring species with unique functional traits is essential, as maintaining richness alone may not safeguard ecosystem functioning in urban landscapes.