S. Mahunka szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 47/1-2. (Budapest, 1986)

Table 3 Comparison of the species composition of scarabaeoid beetle communities found in sheep and cattle droppings in the summer period (Dömsöd, Apajpuszta: Lepidio-Festucetum pseudovinae; VII-DX. ) in sheep droppings only Aphodius pusillus Species collected in sheep and cattle droppings in cattle droppings only Aphodius circumcinctus Aphodius erraticus Aphodius haemorrhoidalis Aphodius ictericus Aphodius immundus Aphodius lugens Aphodius scybalarius Aphodius subterraneus Onthophagus fracticornis Onthophagus furcatus Onthophagus nuchicornis Onthophagus ovatus Onthophagus ruficapillus Onthophagus taurus Onthophagus vacca Geotrupes spiniger Aphodius fimetarius Aphodius foetens Aphodius fossor Aphodius scrutator Aphodius sordidus Aphodius suarius Aphodius Sturmi Euheptaulacus sus Gymnopleurus mopsus Cop ris lunaris Euoniticellus fulvus Caccobius schreberi Onthophagus gibbulus Onthophagus illyricus The species composition of the beetle communities inhabiting sheep droppings proved to be in the three dry pastures studied was similar; the dominant species are largely the same, the smaller differences in the species composition in the three pastures (smaller differences in the characteristic species)can be interpreted as a consequence of the differences in soil, in the geographical situation and in the climate of the three localities. It was presumed on the basis of our earlier experience - and the results of our sampling has proved it - that the constant minimiarea of the dung inhabiting beetle communities varies also in time. At the beginning of growth season the species do not appear synchronously and then they are represented by a comparatively low abundance. The space change of the constant minimiarea is a consequence of the changes in the species abundances. The higher the abundance is, the smaller is the constant minimiarea, i.e. the characteristic area of the constant minimiarea of the coprophagous beetle communities becomes smaller in the ratio of the increase of the species abundances. The changes in the size of the constant minimiarea of the coprophagous beetle communities in sheep droppings continue also in the summer period (which is disadvantageous for them): as a consequence of a decrease in abundance, it is increasing. In the autumn period which is advantageous again, a reverse process is observable. If one wants to estimate the constant minimiarea at the beginning of the growth season, it is more likeli that a vast area must be sampled. On the basis of our experiences (yielded by our sampling data) in the dry pastures of Hungary the composition of the coprophagous beetle communities in sheep droppings is the most characteristic one from the end of April to the middle of May (spring aspect) and from the end of September to the middle of October (autumn aspect); those are the seasons for the smallest constant minimiarea. REFERENCES BREYMEYER, A. (1974): Analysis of a sheep pasture ecosystem in the Pieniny Mountains (the Carpathians). XI. The role of coprophagous beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) in the utilization of sheep dung. - Ekol. pol., 22: 617-634. DESIÈRE, M. and THOME, J.P. (1977): Variations qualitatives et quantitatives de quelques poplulations de coléoptères coprophiles associées aux excréments de trois types d'herbivores. Rev. Écol. Biol. Sol., 14: 583-591. HANSKI, I. (1980a): Spatial patterns and movements in coprophagous beetles. - Oikos, 34: 293-310. HANSKI, I. (1980b): Spatial variation in the timing of the seasonal occurrence in coprophagous beetles. - Oikos, 34: 311-321.