Journal article
Introduced dung beetles suppress methane emissions from cattle dung and alter the temporal dynamics of greenhouse gas flux
Ecological entomology, Vol.First online, pp.1-11
18/06/2026
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Abstract
1. Livestock agriculture is a primary driver of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with cattle dung acting as a significant source of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) are critical ecosystem service providers that modify dung structure, yet their influence on specific GHG fluxes remains variable across different climatic regions and beetle assemblages. In Australia, where introduced beetle species are active year-round, their potential for GHG mitigation is poorly quantified.
2. We investigated the impact of dung beetle activity on GHG (total, CO2, N2O and CH4) and ammonia (NH3) fluxes from cattle dung. Using 90-day chamber mesocosms, we compared emission profiles between pats colonised by a field-representative mix of four species (Euoniticellus intermedius, E. africanus, E. fulvus and Onthophagus granulatus) and beetle-free controls. Cumulative CH4 flux was 85% lower in beetle treatments compared to controls. Control pats exhibited distinct CH4 flux peaks at Day 6 and Day 16, whereas beetle-colonised pats maintained near-zero fluxes throughout the experiment. Conversely, beetles accelerated initial CO2 release, causing an earlier flux peak within the first 14 days compared to controls. Total greenhouse gas flux was nearly 18% lower when beetles were present.
3. These findings indicate that dung beetle activity is associated with altered greenhouse gas flux patterns in cattle dung. The presence of active beetle populations suggests an inherent ecosystem service that may reduce the net methane footprint of grazing systems. Our study highlights the importance of considering invertebrate-mediated processes in agricultural greenhouse gas assessments.
Details
- Title
- Introduced dung beetles suppress methane emissions from cattle dung and alter the temporal dynamics of greenhouse gas flux
- Creators
- Jean Holley - University of New EnglandMartin Brummell - University of New EnglandNigel R. Andrew - University of New England
- Publication Details
- Ecological entomology, Vol.First online, pp.1-11
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Grant note
- Open access publishing facilitated by Southern Cross University, as part of the Wiley - Southern Cross University agreement via the Council of Australasian University Librarians.
- Identifiers
- 991013386429402368
- Copyright
- © 2026 The Author(s).
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article