<br> Functional traits offer critical insights into species performance, survival strategies and ecological interactions. However, the availability of comprehensive trait datasets remains limited, primarily due to the substantial effort required for field sampling and laboratory analysis. This constraint is particularly pronounced in biodiversity hotspots such as the Atlantic Forest, one of the most diverse and threatened biomes globally. The<br> ATLANTIC DUNG BEETLE TRAITS<br> dataset addresses part of this gap by compiling extensive morphological and ecological information for a key insect group in this biome. Dung beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeinae) play essential roles in nutrient cycling, secondary seed dispersal and soil aeration, but many species are increasingly threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation and other human-induced pressures.<br> <br> The dataset includes 47 distinct traits for 1,398 individuals representing up to 385 taxa. Many traits were measured separately by sex and/or habitat to capture intraspecific variation, resulting in 107 trait records overall. It is organised into two main components:<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Novel dataset<br> – Includes 371 individuals from 72 taxa, with measurements for six continuous morphological traits (mean biomass, wing length, wing width, wing area, wing aspect ratio and wing loading) and four categorical ecological traits (body size, diet, relocation behaviour and diel activity), all recorded at the individual level.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Novel dataset<br> – Includes 371 individuals from 72 taxa, with measurements for six continuous morphological traits (mean biomass, wing length, wing width, wing area, wing aspect ratio and wing loading) and four categorical ecological traits (body size, diet, relocation behaviour and diel activity), all recorded at the individual level.<br> <br> Additionally, this dataset includes a set of high-resolution photographs of dung beetle wings from 355 individuals across 51 taxa. These images were used to derive key morphological measurements and are provided to support reproducibility and further research.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Published datasets<br> – Include records for 1,027 individuals representing up to 357 taxa, including 210 taxonomically uncertain species. These datasets cover both individual- and species-level functional traits, totalling 46 traits compiled from 29 published studies conducted between 2011 and 2024.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Published datasets<br> – Include records for 1,027 individuals representing up to 357 taxa, including 210 taxonomically uncertain species. These datasets cover both individual- and species-level functional traits, totalling 46 traits compiled from 29 published studies conducted between 2011 and 2024.<br> <br> This functional trait database offers a standardised, detailed resource to support macroecological, functional and conservation analyses, contributing to biodiversity assessment and management in the Atlantic Forest.
