top of page
liyuenchiew

The mighty nature engineer in restoring tropical soils - The dung beetle



The Tropical Ecology and Entomology Lab (TEE Lab) is proud to have contributed to a groundbreaking study led by Dr Nadine Keller. This collaborative study involved ETH Zurich, University of Zurich, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), and highlights how dung beetles significantly improve water infiltration in compacted soils, offering a natural solution to flooding and erosion in degraded tropical rainforests.


By using blue dye to track water movement, we demonstrated how dung beetles' activities enhance soil permeability, promoting water infiltration and nutrient redistribution. Our key findings revealed that water infiltrates the soil up to five times more effectively in the presence of dung beetles, showcasing their potential as "environmental engineers."


Visit Dung Beetles - Swissnex to learn more about our global collaborations. Stay connected with TEE Lab for more updates on our research and initiatives.



Comments


bottom of page