APHODIUS DUNG BEETLE ASSEMBLAGE STABILITY AT DIFFERENT SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL SCALES

The stability of noah temperate Aphodius assemblages was analysed at f our spatial scales: geographical, regional, local and between-field an d three temporal scales: inter-annual, seasonal and between-day. Great est variability in assemblage composition occurred at the geographical scale. The similar level of variability at the regional, local and be tween-held spatial scales and the inter-annual temporal scale, inferre d some degree of spatio-temporal stability at these scales. DCA analys es indicated that assemblage composition was as variable at the smalle r between-held scale as at the regional scale. The marked seasonal var iability in assemblage structure over the year exceeded variability fr om one year to the next. At the daily scale, species abundances within a field displayed high variability, but there was relatively Little v ariability in assemblage structure. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.