I am an ecologist working in ecosystem services and forest functional dynamics in the Tropics. I use dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) as an indicator tool to quantify ecosystem services and environmental impact caused by humans in different bioregions. Still, I also work with other insect groups like Orthoptera, Neuroptera, and several families of Coleoptera. I have published more than 40 papers in national and international top journals and specialized journals. Also, I am the advisor of several BSc, MSc, and Ph.D. students. I have described several new species of insects. I am an associate editor for several journals. Besides, I have worked with indigenous communities and college students, teaching and transmitting love for insects. Finally, on two occasions, I won the National Award of Entomology in Colombia.
EDUCATION
A biologist from the Universidad de los Andes, with a specialization in Environmental Management, a Master's Degree in Biological Sciences from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, a Doctorate in Functional Ecology from the University of Alcalá in Madrid – Spain and a postdoc from the Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga - Australia.
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Ecology, Insect Science, Animal Science and Zoology, Environmental Engineering
88
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Composition, Diversity, and Biomass of Scarabaeoidea in Tropical Dry Forests of the Colombian Caribbean Region Carlos Taboada-Verona, Rafael Narváez, Jorge Ari Noriega Neotropical Entomology, 2026 Knowing the spatial variability of a region helps us develop specific conservation strategies to mitigate human-induced disturbances. In this context, beetles are excellent bioindicators of spatial changes resulting from human disturbance. This work aims to determine the spatial heterogeneity of the diversity of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea in dry forests of the Colombian Caribbean region. Individuals were captured using baited flight interception traps, pitfall traps, fruit-baited traps, manual collection, and light traps. Forty-seven species, 23 genera, and four families were recorded; the dominant species were Sylvicanthon aequinoctialis (Harold, 1868), Eurysternus caribaeus (Herbst, 1789), and Ateuchus sp. 1. Sampling completeness was above 99%. The range-abundance curves show that the structure is similar between the three sampling sites, presenting very steep slopes, indicating low equity. The dominant trophic guilds were coprophages, constituting 53% of all species, followed by necrophages and sapro-xylophages, with 17% and 15%, respectively. Regarding alpha diversity, the sites showed a pattern of high richness, while beta diversity showed a dissimilarity of 38%. For biomass, no significant differences were detected. The variation in diversity in the study sites may be related to low spatial heterogeneity. Some families are subject to spatio-temporal variability, reproduction cycles, and trap effectiveness. Although this region is under different anthropogenic pressures, such as deforestation, livestock, tourism, and monocultures, the beta diversity of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea was homogeneous in terms of the pattern in the sites studied here. Finally, the composition, diversity, and biomass of the subfamily Scarabaeoidea are potential indicators of spatial heterogeneity in disturbed landscapes.
Agroforestry benefits on dung beetle diversity of the Andean-Chocó region in Ecuador Santiago Villamarin-Cortez, Betzabet Obando-Tello, Roberto Román-RR, Jorge Ari Noriega, Washington Javier Yánez Coronel, et al. Peerj, 2026 Background Conversion of natural landscapes by fragmentation and habitat modification is one of the main causes of biodiversity loss and damage to ecosystem functioning, and studies focused on modified landscapes make it possible to infer how specific land uses, such as conversion to agriculture, affect ecosystem structure and function. Here, we examine how dung beetle assemblages in the Andean-Chocó region in Ecuador vary with land use, including conventional agroecosystems with cacao and coffee production crops and reference forests at a similar elevation. Methods We used a pitfall trapping methodology, using traps baited with human feces, each site encompassed three 60 × 60 m plots, featuring agricultural crop types (Cacao and Coffee), control sites (pristine forests), and seasonal periods (wet and dry). Sampling locations included agroforestry Cacao (AECa) and Coffee (AECo), conventional Cacao (TCa) and Coffee (TCo), and reference forests associated with Cacao (CaF) and Coffee (CoF). To characterize the total biodiversity of different treatments, we used three integrated rarefaction extrapolation curves based on three Hill numbers: species richness, the exponential of Shannon entropy, and the inverse Simpson entropy. We also used Beta diversity measured as the dissimilarity between the assemblages. Results We collected a total of 4,380 specimens and identified 47 species of dung beetles. The areas and season with the greatest dung beetle diversity were the agroforestry cacao and reference forests and the wet season. Beta diversity was highest in Cacao ecosystems, while the Coffee plantations had the high levels of nestedness. Reference forests for the two agroecosystems exhibited higher biomass, followed by areas with agroforestry management. From these results, we can infer that agroforestry production systems in the Andean-Chocó region can contribute to the maintenance of insect species richness and ecosystem functioning and could be viable alternative conservation systems and used as biological corridors.
Global impacts of agricultural and timber plantations on dung beetle biodiversity Pablo A. López‐Bedoya, David P. Edwards, Felicity A. Edwards, César M. A. Correa, Julio Louzada, et al. Journal of Applied Ecology, 2026 The ongoing conversion of natural forests to timber and agriculture plantations has driven rapid biodiversity loss. It is crucial to assess the remaining ecological value of these production areas and to examine how their management and location influence this value. This study aims to determine the pattern of effects resulting from the conversion of natural forests to agricultural and timber plantations on invertebrates, using dung beetles as a crucial bioindicator group that performs essential ecological functions. We conducted a comprehensive global meta‐analysis, using 109 published articles yielding 444 effect sizes to assess dung beetle species richness and abundance in various types of plantations, including annual crops, cocoa, coffee, forestry, oil palm, and rubber. We examined whether the response varied based on plantation management characteristics (origin, connectivity to natural forest, size) or geographic location (zoogeographical region, biodiversity hotspot). Our findings indicated overall negative impacts on dung beetle species richness and abundance, with these effects more pronounced in oil palm and rubber plantations. The severity of impacts was greater in agricultural plantations that utilized species outside their natural distribution range, isolated from natural forests, and implemented over large areas. These effects were pronounced particularly in the Neotropical and Oriental regions. Synthesis and applications . In vulnerable areas, protecting natural forests can help to reduce biodiversity loss. When economic and social contexts, such as in the Neotropical and Oriental regions, hinder conservation strategies, establishing small‐scale plantations of native, structurally diverse species connected to remaining forests may enhance dung beetle diversity, likely reflecting more favourable microclimates and food resources.
Diversity of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) from the Pampas del Heath, Bahuaja Sonene National Park – Peru: new country records Johny Farfan Flores, Orquídea Otazú Loayza, Gorky Valencia, Erick Yabar-Landa, José Antonio Ochoa, et al. Papeis Avulsos De Zoologia, 2026 The composition of dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in the Bahuaja Sonene National Park (PNBS) was studied. Five surveys were conducted in forests and grasslands during both the dry and rainy seasons. Beetles were collected by pitfall traps baited with decomposed fish and human feces. A total of 2,371 individuals of 44 species were collected. Canthon septemmaculatus, Canthidium lentum, Onthophagus rubrescens, O. haematopus, and Coprophanaeus magnoi accounted for 63.1% of the total individuals. Richness estimators indicate a high percentage of inventory completeness. The assemblage structure varied significantly between habitats and sampling months, but not between climatic epochs. Abundance and diversity were higher in the rainy season than in the dry season. The highest richness, diversity, and abundance were recorded in November 2012. The observed richness shows that even small forested fragments are important for conservation purposes. Digitonthophagus gazella is registered for the first time for this area, and the species Canthon octodentatus, Canthidium viridiobscurum, Canthi. multipunctatum, Trichillidium quadridens, C. magnoi, and Uroxys corporaali, constitute new records for the dung beetle fauna of Peru. This is the first reported study of Scarabaeinae diversity from the Heath Pampas of the PNBS, highlighting the importance of comprehensive sampling and inventories at regional and national levels.
Toward a global repository of insect traits (GRIT) Pedro Cardoso, Nathan Jay Baker, Mário Boieiro, Dries Bonte, Paulo A. V. Borges, et al. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 2026 The pace of biodiversity loss outstrips our ability to conserve Earth's most diverse group of named species—the insects (Arthropoda: Insecta). We increasingly rely on trait‐based metrics to understand how insects respond to and affect their environment. Traits provide insights that aid conservation assessment and planning. Yet, we lack a centralised trait database for insects, hampering insights that could inform ecological research and conservation management planning. We propose the creation of the Global Repository of Insect Traits (GRIT). GRIT will cover all world regions, realms and insect taxa. It will provide open and FAIR access to comprehensive trait data compiled from both currently available and future datasets. This proposal is an open call for all to join a global network of collaborators in a collective effort to accelerate the compilation of insect trait data and increase the transparency of data sharing and accessibility in the field. We envision the use of state‐of‐the‐art methods in trait acquisition and imputation to build computational tools that can extract and validate trait data from unstructured text, accelerating information availability by orders of magnitude. We anticipate the development of analytical tools that contribute to a governance structure, ensuring the long‐term success of the database and extraction tools. Finally, we outline future opportunities and identify several research questions that could be readily answered once data are assembled. Recognising the numerous challenges inherent in this project, we invite a robust discussion on strategies to effectively address obstacles.
How a locality can have so many species? A case study with dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) in a tropical rain forest in Colombia Beetles Biodiversity Ecology and Role in the Environment, 2015
Scarabaeoidea superfamily (Insecta: Coleoptera) as a bioindicator element of anthropogenic disturbance in an amazon national park Revista De Biologia Tropical, 2013
New departmental records for Digitonthophagus Gazella (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Colombia Acta Biologica Colombiana, 2012
