Читать книгу Practical Field Ecology - C. Philip Wheater - Страница 72

Dung baited pitfall traps are a relatively easy and enjoyable method of assessing habitat modification and its associated effects. There are, however, health risks associated with using animal dung as bait. The handling of dung and other contaminants expose scientists to an increased risk of gastrointestinal infection, and care must be taken to minimise exposure and employ strict hygiene routines. Regular handwashing in conjunction with the use of disposable gloves are often the minimum requirements to avoid infection.

Dung beetle species richness is highest in the tropical forests and grasslands of Africa. These habitats also contain the world's highest density large wild animal populations, and an increased awareness of working in such locations is necessary to collect meaningful data safely. Studying fantastic insects such as dung beetles can be incredibly worthwhile, especially as there are still numerous new species found every year (e.g. Roggero et al. 2017).