Necrophagous insects play an important role in decomposition and nutrient recycling of decomposing vertebrates. Ecological studies of carrion-associated beetles enhance forensic investigations by providing information about community assemblages and predictable patterns of succession. However, lack of standardized protocols that include replication, spatial scale, and phenology reduce detection of patterns and predictions. To address these gaps and examine the influence of habitat (woodlands vs grasslands) and abiotic factors on carrion beetle (Coleoptera: Silphidae) communities, we developed an experimental approach from broad to finer scale located within the Kansas Flint Hills across a full annual cycle (12 contiguous months). In total, 3,333 adult carrion beetles in nine species were collected from pitfall traps baited with rat carrion over thirteen 4-wk collecting periods. PERMANOVA and NMDS demonstrate that the silphid beetle community was significantly different in species composition between grassland and woodland habitats, but communities did not differ significantly in overall mean abundance, mean species richness, or mean species diversity. Two species exhibited strong habitat associations; one associated with grassland habitat (Nicrophorus marginatus F.) and one with woodland habitat (Nicrophorus orbicollis Say). Our results reveal that habitat associations of silphid beetles can be useful in forensic investigations by determining corpse relocation and in ecological studies that explore niche filtering.

中文翻译：

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腐肉甲虫（鞘翅目：Silphidae）在整个年度周期中的栖息地协会

食尸虫在分解脊椎动物的分解和养分循环中发挥着重要作用。腐肉相关甲虫的生态学研究通过提供有关群落组合和可预测的演替模式的信息来加强法医调查。然而，缺乏包括复制、空间尺度和物候学在内的标准化协议会减少对模式和预测的检测。为了解决这些差距并检查栖息地（林地与草原）和非生物因素对腐肉甲虫（鞘翅目：Silphidae）群落的影响，我们在堪萨斯弗林特山内开发了一种从大到小规模的实验方法，涵盖了整个年度周期（连续 12 个月）。总共3个，在为期 13 个 4 周的收集期中，从陷阱陷阱中收集了 9 个物种的 333 只成年腐肉甲虫。PERMANOVA 和 NMDS 表明，草原和林地生境之间的硅甲虫群落的物种组成存在显着差异，但群落的总体平均丰度、平均物种丰富度或平均物种多样性没有显着差异。两个物种表现出强烈的栖息地关联；一种与草原栖息地（Nicrophorus marginatus F.）有关，一种与林地栖息地（Nicrophorus orbicollis Say）有关。我们的研究结果表明，通过确定尸体迁移和探索生态位过滤的生态研究，silphid 甲虫的栖息地关联可用于法医调查。PERMANOVA 和 NMDS 表明，草原和林地生境之间的硅甲虫群落的物种组成存在显着差异，但群落的总体平均丰度、平均物种丰富度或平均物种多样性没有显着差异。两个物种表现出强烈的栖息地关联；一种与草原栖息地（Nicrophorus marginatus F.）有关，一种与林地栖息地（Nicrophorus orbicollis Say）有关。我们的研究结果表明，通过确定尸体迁移和探索生态位过滤的生态研究，silphid 甲虫的栖息地关联可用于法医调查。PERMANOVA 和 NMDS 表明，草原和林地生境之间的硅甲虫群落的物种组成存在显着差异，但群落的总体平均丰度、平均物种丰富度或平均物种多样性没有显着差异。两个物种表现出强烈的栖息地关联；一种与草原栖息地（Nicrophorus marginatus F.）有关，一种与林地栖息地（Nicrophorus orbicollis Say）有关。我们的研究结果表明，通过确定尸体迁移和探索生态位过滤的生态研究，silphid 甲虫的栖息地关联可用于法医调查。或平均物种多样性。两个物种表现出强烈的栖息地关联；一种与草原栖息地（Nicrophorus marginatus F.）有关，一种与林地栖息地（Nicrophorus orbicollis Say）有关。我们的研究结果表明，通过确定尸体迁移和探索生态位过滤的生态研究，silphid 甲虫的栖息地关联可用于法医调查。或平均物种多样性。两个物种表现出强烈的栖息地关联；一种与草原栖息地（Nicrophorus marginatus F.）有关，一种与林地栖息地（Nicrophorus orbicollis Say）有关。我们的研究结果表明，通过确定尸体迁移和探索生态位过滤的生态研究，silphid 甲虫的栖息地关联可用于法医调查。