Taxonomic Checklist of the Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) of Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

Study Extent

Sabah, Malaysia

Sampling

Biodiversity data found within this taxonomic checklist were obtained from published taxonomic papers, ecological papers and published datasets containing occurrence records for dung beetles in Sabah, Malaysia. All raw extractable data related to taxonomy, occurrence and sampling effort from the sources were extracted into a single dataset (Bornean dung beetle dataset, Tropical Ecology and Entomology Lab) and was later refined into the occurrence dataset extension found here. The taxonomic checklist was then derived from the occurrence dataset. The data was entered according to the Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A) formats and controlled vocabulary was used. Data was cleaned using OpenRefine and Excel and validated through 'GBIF species-lookup tool' and 'GBIF data validator'.

Method steps

1. Data extraction: Literature containing occurrence and taxonomic records from Sabah were first identified and data such as taxonomy and occurrence were mobilized, geo-referenced and transcribed into a dataset 'Bornean dung beetle database, Tropical Ecology & Entomology Lab'. Verbatim data were extracted initially and no data conversion or transformation occurred at this stage.
2. Data Management and Cleaning: Taxonomy data deriving from occurrence was then refined and extracted from the 'Bornean dung beetle database, Tropical Ecology & Entomology Lab' to create a taxonomic dataset and it was cleaned and managed strictly according to Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A) formats and using its controlled vocabulary. Scientific names were split into higher taxonomic classifications (Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Subfamily, Genus, Subgenus) with the aid of 'GBIF species-lookup tool' and verified individually. Missing information such as subgenus were sourced from taxonomic literature and inputted. Authorships were confirmed individually with focus on the application of parentheses. In cases where the species was described under a genus that is different from what was originally described, parenthesis (round brackets) were used around the author and year, thus indicating the existence of synonyms. After taxon rank and taxonomic status was determined, research was done to confirm the accepted names and original names of every species and was inputted accordingly. In cases where the record is a synonym, the accepted name of the species, if not present, was added into the checklist regardless of whether it is derived from the used sources. This is to ensure the taxonomic checklist consists of all the accepted names of all dung beetle species that exist in Sabah. Synonyms of all accepted names were only included if it derived from the used sources. Synonyms and accepted names were linked with unique identifiers (taxonID) using the acceptedNameUsageID and originalNameUsageID columns. Two taxon references were given in the columns, namePublishedin and nameAccordingTo. The former contains the reference in which the species name was first established while the later reference serves as the authoritative taxonomic reference for the record. The dataset was cleaned in Excel and later OpenRefine. The final dataset was then processed through the 'GBIF data validator' prior to publishing. All datasets are in the format .csv.
3. Extensions: A reference extension is also attached to this taxonomic checklist (core). The data in this extension includes all references of when the scientificName has been present in the reference. Each reference has a unique ID (taxonID) that can be linked back to each species in the taxonomic checklist.

All Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae were identified to species level or in some cases subspecies level.

1. Scarabaeinae
   common name: Dung beetles rank: subfamily

Sabah, Malaysia