In the rainforests of the Neotropics, 45-80% of trees depend on animals for seed dispersal. Mammal dung, with intact seeds, is consumed and buried by dung beetles, providing an ecosystem service by planting the seeds. The effectiveness of this activity is highly dependent on beetle behavior, size, and the habitat where it takes place. Data collected over three decades in the Neotropics reveal that certain beetle species are very effective at seed burial within the depth that allows potential germination and growth, while other species fail miserably. This variability is also affected substantially by habitat, including the amount of disturbance, the surrounding levels of tree density, and the mammals that live in an area. I summarize the work my colleagues and I have done over the three decades, which includes comparisons from sites across the length of the Amazon River, and make recommendations concerning the conservation of these important species and the services they provide.
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