Negative Impacts of Anthropogenic Disturbances on the Community Structure of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in Namibia

Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) are a distinctive group of insects that are specialized in utilizing mammalian dung. They play a critical role in the ecosystem by decomposing dung, dispersing seeds, suppressing parasites, and cycling nutrients. Anthropogenic activities such as agriculture, land modification, fragmentation, road construction, and desertification have threatened dung beetles despite their roles in the ecosystem. Anthropogenic activities have a negative effect on dung beetle species diversity and composition. Namibia has been experiencing different types of land degradation, such as soil erosion, deforestation, bush encroachment, land conversion through agricultural activities, and sand mining, which have a greater effect on the species diversity and structure of dung beetles. In Namibia, there is a gap in quantitative research on the impact of anthropogenic activities on dung beetles; such a database is crucial for conservation purposes. Researchers have extensively used dung beetles to evaluate the assemblage structure, ecosystem function, and taxonomy of biodiversity.