Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => The Environment => Topic started by: dentstudent on 25/05/2009 14:45:47

Title: What would happen if there were no dung beetles?
Post by: dentstudent on 25/05/2009 14:45:47

would we be up to our necks in sh it?

What other creatures revel in revolting rectal releases? Relephants?

Title: Re: What would happen if there were no dung beetles?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 26/05/2009 06:21:31

Flies

Title: Re: What would happen if there were no dung beetles?
Post by: Don_1 on 26/05/2009 11:17:15

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.environment.gov.au%2Fincludes%2Fbiodiversity%2Fimages%2Flogo-environment.gif&hash=2ab2c66c1b9e1216ab3dada683a4ba5c)

Quote

The CSIRO's chief executive Dr John Stocker is to have a remarkable and newly discovered Australian insect named after him. The insect, a small mallee moth which feeds on koala droppings, was discovered in the Tantawangalo State Forest in south-east New South Wales earlier this year. It has not yet been given a scientific name.

The head of the Australian National Insect Collection, Dr Ebbe Nielsen, said he had suggested the moth should be named after Dr Stocker in recognition of the CSIRO chief executive's strong support for biodiversity research. He said Dr Stocker had been instrumental in boosting the priority of biodiversity research within CSIRO. Dr Stocker had also encouraged koala-breeding on his own property by planting appropriate eucalypts.

"This moth is an excellent example of Australia's importance as a world centre of biodiversity," Dr Nielsen said. "There are thought to be some 6,000 species of small mallee moths in Australia, all of which are essential in breaking down fallen eucalypt leaves and recycling their nutrients back into the harsh Australian soil.

How would you feel about having a turd eating insect named after you?

Title: Re: What would happen if there were no dung beetles?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 26/05/2009 11:18:32

I would be dung proud of myself, not to mention dungfounded.

Title: Re: What would happen if there were no dung beetles?
Post by: dentstudent on 26/05/2009 11:25:01

You could retire and live in a house called Dungroming

Title: Re: What would happen if there were no dung beetles?
Post by: Don_1 on 26/05/2009 11:48:59

Would you wear dungarees?

Title: Re: What would happen if there were no dung beetles?
Post by: Don_1 on 26/05/2009 11:59:39

If you came upon a truly huge evacuation, would you call it Dungkerque?

Title: Re: What would happen if there were no dung beetles?
Post by: dentstudent on 26/05/2009 12:04:07

Quote from: Don_1 on 26/05/2009 11:59:39

If you came upon a truly huge evacuation, would you call it Dungkerque?

[:D]

Title: Re: What would happen if there were no dung beetles?
Post by: Don_1 on 26/05/2009 12:08:13

Just for the book, an animal which eats dung is 'merdivorous'. Autocoprophagy is eating ones own poo poo. Quite a lot of animals do this in order to extract all the nutrients from there food. Personally, I'd rather go hungry.

Title: Re: What would happen if there were no dung beetles?
Post by: dentstudent on 26/05/2009 12:11:07

Rabbits do this - but it's not really too much different to ruminants...

Title: Re: What would happen if there were no dung beetles?
Post by: Don_1 on 26/05/2009 12:15:57

Indeed they do, take your pick, eat vomit or poo!

Title: Re: What would happen if there were no dung beetles?
Post by: Karsten on 26/05/2009 12:31:47

In honor to those who take care of our left-overs I created this bumper sticker: