AN ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS IS CRITICALLY NEEDED. THE FOCUS OF THIS RESEARCH PROPOSAL IS TO DETERMINE THE IMPACTS OF DUNG BEETLES, FIRE ANTS, AND THEIR INTERACTIONS IN SUBTROPICAL GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEMS COMMONLY USED FOR BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION. THIS RESEARCH PROJECT APPLIES DIRECTLY TO SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS: FUNCTIONS, PROCESSES AND MANAGEMENT, PROGRAM PRIORITIES: 1) NUTRIENT CYCLES AND MANAGEMENT TO EVALUATE THE PHYSICAL PROCESSES AFFECTING THE FLUXES, FATE AND TRANSPORT, TRANSPORTATION, AND STORAGE OF SINGLE OR MULTIPLE NUTRIENTS, AND ESPECIALLY 2) ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND AGRO-ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT THAT DEVELOPS INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND NOVEL SYSTEMS FOR THEIR POTENTIAL TO ENHANCE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES. THE RESEARCH IS DESIGNED TO DETERMINE HOW FIRE ANTS AND DUNG BEETLES AFFECT THE OUTPUT OF THREE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, ONE PROVISIONING AND TWO REGULATING, FOR SUBTROPICAL MANAGED GRASSLANDS SUPPORTING CATTLE RANCHING OPERATIONS. A SAMPLING PROJECT CONDUCTED ACROSS 3 RANCHES AND EXPERIMENTAL FIRE ANT COLONY REMOVALS AND DUNG BEETLE EXCLUSIONS WILL BE USED TO UNDERSTAND HOW PASTURE MANAGEMENT AFFECTS THE DELIVERY OF DISEASE CONTROL AND GRASS PRODUCTION SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE INSECTS.THE STUDY WILL PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT, EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF INSECT-PROVIDED ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN SUBTROPICAL GRASSLANDS AND DELIVER A BIOECONOMIC MODEL TO VALUE THESE SERVICES AND A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL, OUTREACH, AND ECONOMIC PRODUCTS.