Diversity of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Pastoral Landscapes of Jigawa State, North West Nigeria

Dung beetles perform critical ecosystem services including nutrient cycling, secondary seed dispersal, and soil aeration, particularly in pastoral landscapes where cattle herding is prevalent. Jigawa State in North West Nigeria supports large populations of cattle and other livestock, yet the diversity of dung beetles in this landscape has not been systematically studied. This study documents dung beetle species diversity across pastoral, mixed farming, and residual woodland habitats in Jigawa State. Pitfall traps baited with fresh cattle dung will be deployed at 24 sites across three habitat categories over two seasons. Collected beetles will be identified to species level and diversity indices computed. The influence of livestock density, vegetation cover, and soil type on species assemblages will be examined. This research contributes to the largely undocumented dung beetle fauna of North West Nigeria and tests whether pastoral intensification is associated with reduced functional diversity. Findings are expected to document 25 to 40 species, with distinct assemblage differences between woodland and intensive pastoral sites. Results will be communicated to the Jigawa State Agricultural Development Programme to inform land use planning that maintains the ecological functions of dung beetles. Keywords: dung beetles, Scarabaeidae, pastoral landscapes, Jigawa State, ecosystem services