Sugar and protein are the major macronutrients＇ sources, and their balanced intake is important for animal＇s health. It has been observed that animals are able to change food preference in an imbalanced nutritional ...Sugar and protein are the major macronutrients＇ sources, and their balanced intake is important for animal＇s health. It has been observed that animals are able to change food preference in an imbalanced nutritional condition to selectively consume nutrients that are deficient in the body （Dethier, 1976）. Early studies in both Drosophila and mouse have demonstrated that animals exhibit food rejection to imbalanced diets lacking essential amino acids （Hao et al., 2005; Bjordal et al., 2014）. Furthermore, the food preference change upon protein depri- vation has been characterized using a two choice assay in Drosophila （Ribeiro and Dickson, 2010; Vargas et al., 2010）. Different from protein food, sugar is the main energy source, and sugar deficiency severely affects animal survival （Lee et al., 2008）. However, whether animals adopt a strategy of fast food preference switch upon sugar deprivation had not been investigated, and the neural mechanisms underlying this behavior regulation remain poorly understood.展开更多
Background: Intentional winter bird feeding in gardens is one of the most common interactions between birds and humans. Because feeding may have both desired effects(provisioning of nutritious food for under-nourished...Background: Intentional winter bird feeding in gardens is one of the most common interactions between birds and humans. Because feeding may have both desired effects(provisioning of nutritious food for under-nourished birds) and undesired effects(favouritism of competitively superior species, transmission of disease), management of supplementary sites should be optimized from an ecological and conservation perspective. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to experimentally test winter food preferences of birds, with underlying potential influence of habitat(rural vs. urban) on realised food preferences pattern.Methods: We conducted an experimental analysis of food preferences of wintering birds by provided bird-feeders in urban and rural environments across Poland. Data were collected twice during winter 2013–2014 across Poland, in total with 80 experimental trials.Results: Sunflower seeds were the most preferred food supplement both in urban and rural habitats, significantly more exploited than any other food simultaneously available in feeders(animal fat, millet seed and dry fruits of rowanberry). However, no significant differences were recorded between urban and rural habitats in use of food.Conclusions: The degree of use of a particular type of food at bird-feeders depended on the overall use of food in a bird-feeder—consumption of each of the four types of food was significantly positively correlated with that of the others, and it was positively correlated with the number of birds observed at the feeders.展开更多
Background and Objectives:In recent years,with the improvement of people's living standards and changes in dietary patterns,dietary knowledge and food preference have been playing an increasingly crucial role in h...Background and Objectives:In recent years,with the improvement of people's living standards and changes in dietary patterns,dietary knowledge and food preference have been playing an increasingly crucial role in health.The aim of our study was to examine the relationship between dietary knowledge,food preference,and long-short term health status among Chinese adults aged 18-70.Methods and Study Design:This study employed crosssectional data from the 2015 China Health and Nutrition Survey obtained from 4822 adults.We utilized selfassessed health status as an indicator of long-term health status and utilized sickness in the last four weeks as a measure of short-term health status.Taking advantage of ordered probit regression,long-term health status was regressed on all predictors,while the binary logistic regression was used to analyze the factors influencing shortterm health status.The propensity score matching is employed to account for potential selection bias in analysis,thereby increasing the robustness and credibility of results.Results:The analysis revealed that dietary knowledge and food preference can improve an individual’s long-term health status significantly.However,there is no evidence to show that short-term health status is affected by food preference.Furthermore,dietary knowledge is negatively associated with short-term health status.Conclusions:These findings highlight the importance of dietary education and healthy eating habits in improving the long-term health status of Chinese adults.The study suggests implications for public health strategies aimed at enhancing the health and well-being of Chinese adults.展开更多
Two widespread bird species in Sri Lanka’s dry zone,Pycnonotus cafer(Red-vented Bulbul,RVBB)and Pycnonotus luteolus(White-browed Bulbul,WBBB),were studied to understand their foraging dynamics and ecology.The researc...Two widespread bird species in Sri Lanka’s dry zone,Pycnonotus cafer(Red-vented Bulbul,RVBB)and Pycnonotus luteolus(White-browed Bulbul,WBBB),were studied to understand their foraging dynamics and ecology.The research was conducted from October 2022 to February 2023 in Mihintale Sanctuary(80.30′11.24″E,8.21′04.63″N)and the Faculty of Applied Sciences,Rajarata University of Sri Lanka(80.502206″E,8.353090″N).Data were obtained through focal sampling,opportunistic observations,and mist netting.Both species predominantly foraged on twigs,using gleaning as the dominant food-handling technique.RVBB foraged mostly at the canopy level,while WBBB foraged primarily at the sub-canopy level.Fruits constituted the major food type for both species.RVBB and WBBB utilized 10 and 7 plant species,respectively,with Grewia helicterifolia being the primary foraging plant.Minimal foraging was observed on Croton sp.(RVBB)and Hugonia mistax(WBBB).The correlation between nutritional components and the consumption of both species revealed a preference for foods with lower protein,higher fat,and ash content.There was no linear correlation between gape width and fruit size(r=-0.21,P=0.69)for both species.The standardized dietary niche breadth indicated both species are specialists,with a high pairwise dietary niche overlap(0.9854).These findings highlight the niche-specific foraging adaptations of RVBB and WBBB within Mihintale,emphasizing their distinct strategies in utilizing plant species,fruit sizes,and foraging heights.Understanding such ecological dynamics is essential for habitat conservation efforts and ensuring the availability of key foraging resources for these species in the dry zone.展开更多
In order to study the food consumption, preference and day-night predatorydifference of Asterias amurensis on Scapharca broughtonii, the experiments werecarried out at the temperatures ranging from 16 ℃ to 20 ℃, sal...In order to study the food consumption, preference and day-night predatorydifference of Asterias amurensis on Scapharca broughtonii, the experiments werecarried out at the temperatures ranging from 16 ℃ to 20 ℃, salinity of 28.2 ± 2.1,dissolved oxygen of 7.5±0.7 mg/L and pH of 8.0 ± 0.3.The results provided basic datafor promoting steady and healthy development of the multiplication and cultivation of S.broughtonii. The results of food consumption suggested that the food intake of starfishincreased with the density of S. broughtonii at all conditions. The food consumption ofstarfish in different sizes on S. broughtonii in the same size had no significant difference(p>0.05), but it was significantly different among S. broughtonii in different sizes. Thestarfish had the highest feeding rate on the smallest S. broughtonii. Our findings alsoverified the positive relation between the weight of food intake of starfish in differentsizes on the density and size of S. broughtonii. The feeding rhythm of starfish onS. broughtonii in different sizes showed a certain day-night difference, higher at nightthan in the day. The maximum food consumption occurred when the size of S.broughtonii became larger. The results showed that 30 ind/m2 was the suitable seabottom sowing density for S. broughtonii. Our data indicated that the ability to avoidpredators and rivals increased as the shell length rose. Based on prey selectivity,bivalves that have a lower commercial value may be used to clear away A. amurensis.展开更多
To assess the relationship between food consumption at home, nutritional status, gender preference and the preference-selection of natural products (fruits and vegetables) and industrialized (candies and chips) in a s...To assess the relationship between food consumption at home, nutritional status, gender preference and the preference-selection of natural products (fruits and vegetables) and industrialized (candies and chips) in a situation of free access for a population of Mexican schoolchildren. 115 children participated in the test, 59 boys and 56 girls from second, fourth and sixth grade of elementary school. We have taken measures of weight, size and the 24-hour consumption record during over five days, at which time also we evaluated the preference and selection of a group of ten products (naturals and industrialized). According to the results 60% of children had normal weight, 23.47% overweight, 14.8% risk of overweight an 1.73% underweight. There were no significant differences with X2 test between nutritional status and gender. Multivariate analysis was applied between gender, consumption by food groups and nutritional status, the interaction was significant in all cases. The Pearson correlation between preference and food choice in the situation of open access is high in the school students at risk of overweight. The preferred and selected products for consumption are those with the highest content of saturated fat, sugars and salt, the less preferred and selected products were fruits and vegetables. We could conclude that the population is at risk for their low consumption of fruits and vegetables;situation that is reflection of the home consumption this document.展开更多
The social transmission of food preferences （STFP） is a behavioural task of olfactory memory, in which an observer rat learns safe food odours from a demonstrator rat, and shows preference for this odour in a subseq...The social transmission of food preferences （STFP） is a behavioural task of olfactory memory, in which an observer rat learns safe food odours from a demonstrator rat, and shows preference for this odour in a subsequent choice test. However, previous studies have failed to detect the transmission of information about food study, we tested how demonstrators＇ health affects the exchange of of potential danger and food aversion using STFP test. In this odour information and whether observers can learn danger information from an unhealthy demonstrator. As expected, the observer rat formed an odour preference after interacting with a demonstrator rat that had just eaten food containing a new odour, however, odour preference rather than aversion was also formed after interacting with a demonstrator rat injected with LiC1 （used to induce gastric malaise）. Furthermore, anaesthetized demonstrator rats and half-anaesthetized demonstrator rats, which showed obvious motor deficits suggesting an unhealthy state, also socially transmitted food preferences to observers. These results suggest that the social transmission of food preferences task is independent of a demonstrators＇ health, and that information about dangerous foods cannot be transmitted using this behavioural task.展开更多
The present study investigated how snapping behavior toward familiar and unfamiliar prey is modified by reward omission and aversive conditioning in the f^re-bellied toad Bombina orientalis. Toads were trained to snap...The present study investigated how snapping behavior toward familiar and unfamiliar prey is modified by reward omission and aversive conditioning in the f^re-bellied toad Bombina orientalis. Toads were trained to snap at cricket images by rewarding them with live crickets. The task was learned, and the learning criterion （10 snapping responses within 2 minutes） was reached in all individuals investigated. Subsequent reward omission did not alter the frequency of snapping to the familiar cricket stimulus. Snapping decreased only in some individuals, when a mild foot shock was applied at snapping. However, at presenta- tion of images of hitherto unfamiliar meal worms and foot-shock application at snapping to the stimulus, the majority of toads diminished snapping significantly. Snapping responses decreased more rapidly, when snapping at meal worms was not rewarded or a footshock was applied uncorrelated to the presentation of or snapping at meal worms. These results demonstrate that in toads familiarity and unfamiliarity of prey stimuli are important factors in aversive learning, because well-trained responses to familiar stimuli become immune against reward omission. Furthermore, at presentation of unfamiliar stimuli, omission of reward and un- correlated footshock had a stronger aversive effect than correlated footshock [Current Zoology 57 （6）： 709-716, 2011 ].展开更多
Chemical and biological insecticides have been frequently used in sugarcane fields to control insects-pests, including the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis. Among the products used, those based on chlorantranilip...Chemical and biological insecticides have been frequently used in sugarcane fields to control insects-pests, including the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis. Among the products used, those based on chlorantraniliprole and Metarhizium anisopliae entomopathogenic fungus, stand out. Euborellia annulipes is an insect of the order Dermaptera considered a potential predator of sugarcane borer eggs. This study aimed to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of the bioinsecticide based on M. anisopliae (Metarril<sup>®</sup>) and the chemical insecticide chlorantraniliprole (Altacor<sup>®</sup>) on the mortality of E. annulipes nymphs and adults, the predation and feeding preference of earwigs in eggs treated with the formulated products. Predator mortality was evaluated for seven days after treatment, while the effect on predation was analyzed by preference tests with and without choice, using prey eggs. The products tested were selective to the predator, causing ≤ 2% mortality and not affecting predation. The application of M. anisopliae on sugarcane borer eggs favored the food preference of fourth-instar nymphs, males, and females of the predator. Our results show that Metarril<sup>®</sup> and Altacor<sup>®</sup> can be used to control D. saccharalis when associated with the predator E. annulipes.展开更多
We used dung beetles to evaluate the impact of urbanization on insect biodi- versity in three Atlantic Forest fragments in Londrina, Parana, Brazil. This study provides the first empirical evidence of the impact of ur...We used dung beetles to evaluate the impact of urbanization on insect biodi- versity in three Atlantic Forest fragments in Londrina, Parana, Brazil. This study provides the first empirical evidence of the impact of urbanization on richness, abundance, compo- sition and guild structure of dung beetle communities from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We evaluated the community aspects （abundance, richness, composition and food guilds） of dung beetles in fragments with different degrees of immersion in the urban matrix using pitfall traps with four alternative baits （rotten meat, rotten fish, pig dung and decaying ba- nana）. A total of 1 719 individuals were collected, belonging to 29 species from 11 genera and six Scarabaeinae tribes. The most urban-immersed fragment showed a higher species dominance and the beetle community captured on dung presented the greatest evenness. The beetle communities were distinct with respect to the fragments and feeding habits. Except for the dung beetle assemblage in the most urbanized forest fragment, all others exhibited contrasting differences in species composition attracted to each bait type. Our results clearly show that the degree of urbanization affects Atlantic Forest dung beetle communities and that the preservation of forest fragments inside the cities, even small ones, can provide refuges for Scarabaeinae.展开更多
基金supported by the grants from the National Science Foundation of China(Nos. 91132709 and 31130027)
文摘Sugar and protein are the major macronutrients＇ sources, and their balanced intake is important for animal＇s health. It has been observed that animals are able to change food preference in an imbalanced nutritional condition to selectively consume nutrients that are deficient in the body （Dethier, 1976）. Early studies in both Drosophila and mouse have demonstrated that animals exhibit food rejection to imbalanced diets lacking essential amino acids （Hao et al., 2005; Bjordal et al., 2014）. Furthermore, the food preference change upon protein depri- vation has been characterized using a two choice assay in Drosophila （Ribeiro and Dickson, 2010; Vargas et al., 2010）. Different from protein food, sugar is the main energy source, and sugar deficiency severely affects animal survival （Lee et al., 2008）. However, whether animals adopt a strategy of fast food preference switch upon sugar deprivation had not been investigated, and the neural mechanisms underlying this behavior regulation remain poorly understood.
文摘Background: Intentional winter bird feeding in gardens is one of the most common interactions between birds and humans. Because feeding may have both desired effects(provisioning of nutritious food for under-nourished birds) and undesired effects(favouritism of competitively superior species, transmission of disease), management of supplementary sites should be optimized from an ecological and conservation perspective. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to experimentally test winter food preferences of birds, with underlying potential influence of habitat(rural vs. urban) on realised food preferences pattern.Methods: We conducted an experimental analysis of food preferences of wintering birds by provided bird-feeders in urban and rural environments across Poland. Data were collected twice during winter 2013–2014 across Poland, in total with 80 experimental trials.Results: Sunflower seeds were the most preferred food supplement both in urban and rural habitats, significantly more exploited than any other food simultaneously available in feeders(animal fat, millet seed and dry fruits of rowanberry). However, no significant differences were recorded between urban and rural habitats in use of food.Conclusions: The degree of use of a particular type of food at bird-feeders depended on the overall use of food in a bird-feeder—consumption of each of the four types of food was significantly positively correlated with that of the others, and it was positively correlated with the number of birds observed at the feeders.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant[61773018]Fundamental Research Fund of Zhengzhou University of Light Industry(No.23XJCYJ078)+8 种基金in part by the Scientific Research Foundation of the Higher Education Institutions of Henan Province of China under Grant[23A110003]funding from the National Institute for Health(NIH),the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development(NICHD)for R01 HD30880 and R01 HD38700National Institute on Aging(NIA)for R01 AG065357National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases(NIDDK)for R01 DK104371 and P30 DK056350National Heart,Lung,and Blood Institute(NHLBI)for R01 HL108427the NIH Fogarty grant D43 TW009077the Carolina Population Center for P2C HD050924 and P30 AG066615 since 1989the China-Japan Friendship Hospital,Ministry of Health for support for CHNS 2009,Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai since 2009Beijing Municipal Center for Disease Prevention and Control since 2011.
文摘Background and Objectives:In recent years,with the improvement of people's living standards and changes in dietary patterns,dietary knowledge and food preference have been playing an increasingly crucial role in health.The aim of our study was to examine the relationship between dietary knowledge,food preference,and long-short term health status among Chinese adults aged 18-70.Methods and Study Design:This study employed crosssectional data from the 2015 China Health and Nutrition Survey obtained from 4822 adults.We utilized selfassessed health status as an indicator of long-term health status and utilized sickness in the last four weeks as a measure of short-term health status.Taking advantage of ordered probit regression,long-term health status was regressed on all predictors,while the binary logistic regression was used to analyze the factors influencing shortterm health status.The propensity score matching is employed to account for potential selection bias in analysis,thereby increasing the robustness and credibility of results.Results:The analysis revealed that dietary knowledge and food preference can improve an individual’s long-term health status significantly.However,there is no evidence to show that short-term health status is affected by food preference.Furthermore,dietary knowledge is negatively associated with short-term health status.Conclusions:These findings highlight the importance of dietary education and healthy eating habits in improving the long-term health status of Chinese adults.The study suggests implications for public health strategies aimed at enhancing the health and well-being of Chinese adults.
文摘Two widespread bird species in Sri Lanka’s dry zone,Pycnonotus cafer(Red-vented Bulbul,RVBB)and Pycnonotus luteolus(White-browed Bulbul,WBBB),were studied to understand their foraging dynamics and ecology.The research was conducted from October 2022 to February 2023 in Mihintale Sanctuary(80.30′11.24″E,8.21′04.63″N)and the Faculty of Applied Sciences,Rajarata University of Sri Lanka(80.502206″E,8.353090″N).Data were obtained through focal sampling,opportunistic observations,and mist netting.Both species predominantly foraged on twigs,using gleaning as the dominant food-handling technique.RVBB foraged mostly at the canopy level,while WBBB foraged primarily at the sub-canopy level.Fruits constituted the major food type for both species.RVBB and WBBB utilized 10 and 7 plant species,respectively,with Grewia helicterifolia being the primary foraging plant.Minimal foraging was observed on Croton sp.(RVBB)and Hugonia mistax(WBBB).The correlation between nutritional components and the consumption of both species revealed a preference for foods with lower protein,higher fat,and ash content.There was no linear correlation between gape width and fruit size(r=-0.21,P=0.69)for both species.The standardized dietary niche breadth indicated both species are specialists,with a high pairwise dietary niche overlap(0.9854).These findings highlight the niche-specific foraging adaptations of RVBB and WBBB within Mihintale,emphasizing their distinct strategies in utilizing plant species,fruit sizes,and foraging heights.Understanding such ecological dynamics is essential for habitat conservation efforts and ensuring the availability of key foraging resources for these species in the dry zone.
基金supported by the National Sea Welfare Project(201205023)China Agriculture Research System(CARS-48)the earmarked fund for Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System in Shandong Province(SDAIT-14)
文摘In order to study the food consumption, preference and day-night predatorydifference of Asterias amurensis on Scapharca broughtonii, the experiments werecarried out at the temperatures ranging from 16 ℃ to 20 ℃, salinity of 28.2 ± 2.1,dissolved oxygen of 7.5±0.7 mg/L and pH of 8.0 ± 0.3.The results provided basic datafor promoting steady and healthy development of the multiplication and cultivation of S.broughtonii. The results of food consumption suggested that the food intake of starfishincreased with the density of S. broughtonii at all conditions. The food consumption ofstarfish in different sizes on S. broughtonii in the same size had no significant difference(p>0.05), but it was significantly different among S. broughtonii in different sizes. Thestarfish had the highest feeding rate on the smallest S. broughtonii. Our findings alsoverified the positive relation between the weight of food intake of starfish in differentsizes on the density and size of S. broughtonii. The feeding rhythm of starfish onS. broughtonii in different sizes showed a certain day-night difference, higher at nightthan in the day. The maximum food consumption occurred when the size of S.broughtonii became larger. The results showed that 30 ind/m2 was the suitable seabottom sowing density for S. broughtonii. Our data indicated that the ability to avoidpredators and rivals increased as the shell length rose. Based on prey selectivity,bivalves that have a lower commercial value may be used to clear away A. amurensis.
文摘To assess the relationship between food consumption at home, nutritional status, gender preference and the preference-selection of natural products (fruits and vegetables) and industrialized (candies and chips) in a situation of free access for a population of Mexican schoolchildren. 115 children participated in the test, 59 boys and 56 girls from second, fourth and sixth grade of elementary school. We have taken measures of weight, size and the 24-hour consumption record during over five days, at which time also we evaluated the preference and selection of a group of ten products (naturals and industrialized). According to the results 60% of children had normal weight, 23.47% overweight, 14.8% risk of overweight an 1.73% underweight. There were no significant differences with X2 test between nutritional status and gender. Multivariate analysis was applied between gender, consumption by food groups and nutritional status, the interaction was significant in all cases. The Pearson correlation between preference and food choice in the situation of open access is high in the school students at risk of overweight. The preferred and selected products for consumption are those with the highest content of saturated fat, sugars and salt, the less preferred and selected products were fruits and vegetables. We could conclude that the population is at risk for their low consumption of fruits and vegetables;situation that is reflection of the home consumption this document.
基金supported by the 973 Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(2013CB835103)the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Science(XDB02020200)the National Science Foundation of China(31100775)
文摘The social transmission of food preferences （STFP） is a behavioural task of olfactory memory, in which an observer rat learns safe food odours from a demonstrator rat, and shows preference for this odour in a subsequent choice test. However, previous studies have failed to detect the transmission of information about food study, we tested how demonstrators＇ health affects the exchange of of potential danger and food aversion using STFP test. In this odour information and whether observers can learn danger information from an unhealthy demonstrator. As expected, the observer rat formed an odour preference after interacting with a demonstrator rat that had just eaten food containing a new odour, however, odour preference rather than aversion was also formed after interacting with a demonstrator rat injected with LiC1 （used to induce gastric malaise）. Furthermore, anaesthetized demonstrator rats and half-anaesthetized demonstrator rats, which showed obvious motor deficits suggesting an unhealthy state, also socially transmitted food preferences to observers. These results suggest that the social transmission of food preferences task is independent of a demonstrators＇ health, and that information about dangerous foods cannot be transmitted using this behavioural task.
文摘The present study investigated how snapping behavior toward familiar and unfamiliar prey is modified by reward omission and aversive conditioning in the f^re-bellied toad Bombina orientalis. Toads were trained to snap at cricket images by rewarding them with live crickets. The task was learned, and the learning criterion （10 snapping responses within 2 minutes） was reached in all individuals investigated. Subsequent reward omission did not alter the frequency of snapping to the familiar cricket stimulus. Snapping decreased only in some individuals, when a mild foot shock was applied at snapping. However, at presenta- tion of images of hitherto unfamiliar meal worms and foot-shock application at snapping to the stimulus, the majority of toads diminished snapping significantly. Snapping responses decreased more rapidly, when snapping at meal worms was not rewarded or a footshock was applied uncorrelated to the presentation of or snapping at meal worms. These results demonstrate that in toads familiarity and unfamiliarity of prey stimuli are important factors in aversive learning, because well-trained responses to familiar stimuli become immune against reward omission. Furthermore, at presentation of unfamiliar stimuli, omission of reward and un- correlated footshock had a stronger aversive effect than correlated footshock [Current Zoology 57 （6）： 709-716, 2011 ].
文摘Chemical and biological insecticides have been frequently used in sugarcane fields to control insects-pests, including the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis. Among the products used, those based on chlorantraniliprole and Metarhizium anisopliae entomopathogenic fungus, stand out. Euborellia annulipes is an insect of the order Dermaptera considered a potential predator of sugarcane borer eggs. This study aimed to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of the bioinsecticide based on M. anisopliae (Metarril<sup>®</sup>) and the chemical insecticide chlorantraniliprole (Altacor<sup>®</sup>) on the mortality of E. annulipes nymphs and adults, the predation and feeding preference of earwigs in eggs treated with the formulated products. Predator mortality was evaluated for seven days after treatment, while the effect on predation was analyzed by preference tests with and without choice, using prey eggs. The products tested were selective to the predator, causing ≤ 2% mortality and not affecting predation. The application of M. anisopliae on sugarcane borer eggs favored the food preference of fourth-instar nymphs, males, and females of the predator. Our results show that Metarril<sup>®</sup> and Altacor<sup>®</sup> can be used to control D. saccharalis when associated with the predator E. annulipes.
文摘We used dung beetles to evaluate the impact of urbanization on insect biodi- versity in three Atlantic Forest fragments in Londrina, Parana, Brazil. This study provides the first empirical evidence of the impact of urbanization on richness, abundance, compo- sition and guild structure of dung beetle communities from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We evaluated the community aspects （abundance, richness, composition and food guilds） of dung beetles in fragments with different degrees of immersion in the urban matrix using pitfall traps with four alternative baits （rotten meat, rotten fish, pig dung and decaying ba- nana）. A total of 1 719 individuals were collected, belonging to 29 species from 11 genera and six Scarabaeinae tribes. The most urban-immersed fragment showed a higher species dominance and the beetle community captured on dung presented the greatest evenness. The beetle communities were distinct with respect to the fragments and feeding habits. Except for the dung beetle assemblage in the most urbanized forest fragment, all others exhibited contrasting differences in species composition attracted to each bait type. Our results clearly show that the degree of urbanization affects Atlantic Forest dung beetle communities and that the preservation of forest fragments inside the cities, even small ones, can provide refuges for Scarabaeinae.
