The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is often assessed through trait diversity. However, the relationship between traits and functions is typically assumed but seldom tested. We analyze the relationship between dung beetle traits and three ecological functions: dung removal, dung burial and seedling emergence. We set up a laboratory experiment using nine Scarabaeidae species (three endocoprids, four paracoprids and two telecoprids). We placed a sexual pair of beetles in each experimental unit, together with a mixture of dung and seeds, and measured the amount of dung removed and buried, burial depth, and the number of emerged seedlings. Sixteen morphological traits related to dung removal and burial were measured in each individual. Results indicate that these traits were related to dung beetle performance in dung removal and burial. Most traits were positively related to dung removal, indicating the existence of a general trait syndrome associated to dung manipulation and digging capability. Dung exploitation strategies did not provide further explanatory power. Seedling emergence showed a negative but weak relationship with dung burial amount and depth and species identity. This implies that specific differences in dung-soil interface activity may be important in secondary seed dispersal by dung beetles.

中文翻译：

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评估蜣螂性状与除粪、掩埋和出苗之间的功能关系

生物多样性与生态系统功能之间的关系通常通过性状多样性来评估。然而，特征和功能之间的关系通常是假设的，但很少进行测试。我们分析了粪甲虫性状与三种生态功能之间的关系：除粪、埋粪和出苗。我们使用九种金龟科物种（三种内蛛科动物、四种副蛛科动物和两种翼蛛科动物）进行了一项实验室实验。我们在每个实验单元中放置了一对有性甲虫，连同粪便和种子的混合物，并测量了去除和掩埋的粪便量、埋藏深度和出苗数。在每个个体中测量了 16 个与粪便清除和埋葬相关的形态特征。结果表明，这些性状与蜣螂在清粪和掩埋方面的表现有关。大多数性状与除粪呈正相关，表明存在与粪便操纵和挖掘能力相关的一般性状综合征。粪便开发策略没有提供进一步的解释力。幼苗出苗与粪埋量、埋藏深度和物种特性呈负但较弱的关系。这意味着粪土界面活性的特定差异可能在粪甲虫的二次种子传播中很重要。幼苗出苗与粪埋量、埋藏深度和物种特性呈负但较弱的关系。这意味着粪土界面活性的特定差异可能在粪甲虫的二次种子传播中很重要。幼苗出苗与粪埋量、埋藏深度和物种特性呈负但较弱的关系。这意味着粪土界面活性的特定差异可能在粪甲虫的二次种子传播中很重要。