EN
The research was conducted in the Człuchów Forest (NW Poland). Eight research plots representing early developmental stages (forest plantation and thicket stage) of Scots pine stands were established. Five traps baited with cow dung were set in each of the plots. In total, 24,811 specimens representing 34 species of dung beetles (coprophagous Scarabaeoidea) were collected. The structure of dung beetle communities inhabiting forest plantations and thicket stages of pine stands changes in the course of the vegetation season. The culmination of the process takes place in July, when a dramatic drop in the number of both individuals and species occurs. Dung beetle communities inhabiting forest plantations and thicket stages of pine stands are dominated by earth−boring dung beetles (Geotrupidae). The proportion of individuals representing Aphodiinae and Scarabaeinae dung beetles amounts to less than 40% of the total. Anoplotrupes stercorosus plays the role of the superdominant in those communities, and Trypocopris vernalis is a superdominant or dominant species. Two communities of dung beetle were differentiated, based on the season of adult activity: spring−autumn type (characterized by high species richness and the presence of Agrilinus ater, Calamasternus granarius, Chilothorax paykulli, Copris lunaris, Esymus merdarius, Heptaulacus testudinarius, Melinopterus sphacelatus, Nimbus contaminatus, Oxyomus sylvestris and Rhyssemus puncticollis) and spring−summer type (characterized by the lowest species richness and the presence of Bodilopsis rufa, B. sordida, Geotrupes spiniger, Limarus zenkeri, Othophorus haemorrhoidalis and Rhodaphodius foetens).