Evaluating taxon substitution of dung beetles in coastal sand dunes: An individual-based model approach

To restore the ecosystem of Taean Sinduri Coastal Dune, there is an ongoing effort to re-introduce dung beetle, which plays a key biological function in this unique ecosystem. However, Scarabaeus typhon (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), the native dung beetle species in the coastal dune, is now locally extinct in South Korea. Instead, two different dung beetle species, Gymnopleurus mopsus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and Copris ochus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) are currently being considered as an alternative for S. typhon. Gymnopleurus mopsus, a telecoprid like S. typhon, exhibits behavioral similarities to the native species, whereas C. ochus, a paracoprid, is known to be more efficient in dung removal, which is a principal ecological function of dung beetle. Thus, in our study, we aim to determine optimal restoration strategy for the two candidate species and to evaluate and compare their viability for taxon substitution using an individual-based model.