The Fate of Burying Beetles and their Carcasses: Hardships, Competition and Environmental Factors
Abstract
Burying Beetles face both intraspecific and interspecific competition throughout the whole process of rearing a brood. Nicrophorus (burying beetles) are a well-studied genus that provides bi-parental care on the carcass resource that they bury for rearing their brood. Because carcasses are often rare, there is a threat of intruders that may take over the resource. Lab studies have shown a significant cost of intruders, and the roles that the adults play in defense. However, few studies have been done on intraspecific intrusion in the wild, or how these might be affected by developmental stage, carcass size, and habitat type. This research at RMBL can help provide further information on the factors that influence the reproductive success of N. investigator and N. defodiens. Overall, no successful intrusion happened in any of the experiments with 72 mice placed out across 2 experiments. Aspen habitat had the most successful reproduction with 7 total successful broods of larvae, five N.defodiens, and two N.investigator. Meadow overall had more beetles finding the carcasses but had almost every single carcass abandoned due to factors such as competition, soil moisture, and high temperatures. The meadow had a single successful brood of larvae with N. investigator. Intrusion might not happen as frequently as previously thought in the wild.
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References (13)
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