The status and distribution of the scarab beetles Rhysothorax rufa and Onthophagus nuchicornis on Welsh dunes in 2017
Statws a dosbarthiad chwilod y dom Rhysothorax rufa ac Onthophagus nuchicornis ar dwyni Cymru yn 2017
The Endangered Red Dune Crawler (Rhysothorax rufa) has been recorded from only a handful of dune systems in England and Wales and has not been recorded in England for over fifteen years. In Wales, it is known from Kenfig Burrows, where a single adult was found on 20 July 1994, and from Merthyr Mawr Warren, where single adults were recorded in June 1981 and on 21 May 2006. Adults feed on detritus within sandy habitats. A survey undertaken in 2017 failed to locate the beetle at either site. Current management at both Kenfig Burrows and Merthyr Mawr Warren is considered sympathetic to the conservation of this species.
The Vulnerable Dillwyn's Dung Beetle (Onthophagus nuchicornis) was formerly widespread across England and Wales. However, it has declined dramatically in England and is now known from only five of its 30 previously recorded locations, where it is encountered infrequently and often as single individuals. In Wales, it is restricted to coastal sand dune systems and has been recorded from fifteen sites, ranging from Merthyr Mawr Warren in the south-east to Morfa Harlech in the north-west. Larvae develop in the dung of a range of mammals but are thought to be largely dependent on that of large herbivores such as cattle, ponies, and sheep.
A survey undertaken in 2017 at known sites, using both hand-searching and baited pitfall traps, recorded Onthophagus nuchicornis at seven localities: Kenfig Burrows (975 adults), Merthyr Mawr Warren (36), Morfa Harlech (1), Oxwich Burrows (4), Pembrey Burrows (32), Pennard Burrows (4), and Whiteford Burrows (5). The population at Kenfig Burrows is the strongest known in the UK. Elsewhere, absence and low population levels are strongly correlated with the cessation of grazing and reductions in the quantity and quality of available dung.
Management practices, including grazing regimes, are considered beneficial for the conservation of this species at three sites (Kenfig Burrows, Merthyr Mawr Warren, and Whiteford Burrows), although there remains scope for improvement. Increased access for cattle to mobile dunes and areas of disturbed open sand would be particularly beneficial for Onthophagus nuchicornis. Management recommendations are provided for all currently occupied sites.
- Identification
- Extent
- Distribution
- Quality
- Keywords
- Spatial Reference System
- Content
- Constraints
- Maintenance
- Metadata
Identification
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DynodyddIdentifier
- NRW_DS121588
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Teitl AmgenAlternative Title
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Laith MetadataMetadata Language
- English
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Lineage
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Surveys were by visual searches and baited pitfall traps.
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Dyddiad cyfeirnod y set ddata (Cyhoeddiad)Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
- 2018-05-01
Temporal Extent
- Begin date
- 2017-05-20
- End date
- 2017-06-18
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Categori pwncTopic category
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BiotaBiota
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Extent
Extent
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HydGeographic Extent
- Wales (WLS)
))
Distribution
Dosbarthiad
Distribution
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Fformat - Math a DisgrifiadFormat Type and Description
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Database
(
Unknown
)
- Specification
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Species records on Welsh Invertebrate Database
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Documents
(
Unknown
)
- Specification
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Report as pdf format
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Database
(
Unknown
)
Quality
Ansawdd Data
Data quality
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Cwmpas AnsawddQuality Scope
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DatasetDataset
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CydymffurfiadConformity
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services
- Explanation
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This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation.
- Degree
- false
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Lineage
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Surveys were by visual searches and baited pitfall traps.
Keywords
Allweddair
Keywords
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MathType
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ThemeTheme
Dyfyniad
Citation
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Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)Date (Publication)
- 2008-06-01
Allweddair
Keywords
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NRW Thesaurus
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- Rhysothorax rufa
- invertebrate surveys
- entomological survey
- Onthophagus nuchicornis
- ecological surveys
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MathType
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ThemeTheme
Dyfyniad
Citation
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Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)Date (Publication)
- 2026-08-27
Spatial Reference System
Content
Gwybodaeth Cynnwys
Content Information
Proffil CNC
NRW Profile
Elfennau CNC
Custom Elements
- NRW Related Title
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The status and distribution of the scarab beetles Rhysothorax rufa and Onthophagus nuchicornis on Welsh dunes in 2017
Constraints
Constraints
Limitations on Public Access and Use
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Math o GyfyngiadRestriction type
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Other restrictionsOther restrictions
Access Constraints Directive
- Limitations
- no limitations
Access Constraints Text
- Other constraints
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There are no access restrictions on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely.
Use Constraints
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Cyfyngiadau DefnyddioUse constraints type
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Other restrictionsOther restrictions
- Other constraints
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© CNC/NRW Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose. Attribution statement: Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved.
Attribution Statement
- Other constraints
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Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved.
Licence
- Other constraints
- Open Government Licence
Metadata
Metadata
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Dynodydd FfeilFile Identifier
- 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313231353838 XML
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Laith MetadataMetadata Language
- English
- Parent Identifier
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Welsh Invertebrate Database (WID)
NRW_DS23774
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Math o adnoddResource type
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DatasetDataset
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Dyddiad MetadataMetadata Date
- 2026-10-07T12:39:39.635Z
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Enw Safonol MetadataMetadata Standard Name
- NRW
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Fersiwn MetadataMetadata Standard Version
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1.0