This project investigates the deep-time evolution of dung beetles, one of nature's most essential recyclers, and their interactions with dinosaurs and mammals. Dung beetles play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and ecosystem health, yet their origins and evolutionary history remain a mystery. Using advanced methods, including DNA analysis, fossil investigation, and X-ray imaging of dinosaur coprolites, we aim to determine whether dinosaur or mammalian dung spurred dung beetles evolution and how factors such as grassland expansion, climate shifts, and mammal richness influenced their remarkable diversification. This research will shed light on the coevolution of life on Earth and the ecological networks that sustain our planet today.

2025

2029