Flower-mediated plant-butterfly interactions in an heterogeneous tropical coastal ecosystem

Abstract

BackgroundInterspecific interactions play an important role in determining species richness and persistence in a given locality. However at some sites, the studies, especially for interaction networks on adult butterflies are scarce. The present study aimed the following objectives: (1) determine butterfly species richness and diversity that visit flowering plants, (2) compare species richness and diversity in butterfly-plant interactions among six different vegetation types and (3) analyze the structure of butterfly-flowering plant interaction networks mediated by flowers.MethodsThe study was developed in six vegetation types within the natural reserve of La Mancha, located in Veracruz, Mexico. In each vegetation type, we recorded the frequency of flower visits by butterflies monthly in round plots (of radius 5 m) for 12 months. We calculated Shannon diversity for butterfly species and diversity of interactions per vegetation type. We determined the classic Jaccard similarity index among vegetation types and estimated parameters at network and species-level.ResultsWe found 123 species of butterflies belonging to 11 families and 87 genera. The highest number of species belonged to Hesperiidae (46 species), followed by Nymphalidae (28) and Pieridae (14). The highest butterfly diversity and interaction diversity was observed in pioneer dune vegetation (PDV), coastal dune scrub (CDS) and tropical deciduous flooding forest and wetland (TDF-W). The same order of vegetation types was found for interaction diversity. Highest species similarity was found between PDV-CDS and PDV-TDF. The butterfly-plant interaction network showed a nested structure with one module. The species Ascia monuste, Euptoieta hegesia and Leptotes cassius were the most generalist in the network, while Horama oedippus, E. hegesia, and L. cassius were the species with highest dependencies per plant species.DiscussionOur study is important because it constitutes a pioneer study of butterfly-plant interactions in this protected area, at least for adult butterflies; it shows the diversity of interactions among flowering plants and butterflies. Our research constitutes the first approach (at a community level) to explore the functional role of pollination services that butterflies provide to plant communities. We highlighted that open areas show a higher diversity and these areas shared a higher number of species that shaded sites. In the interaction networks parameters, our results highlighted the higher dependence of butterflies by the flowers on which they feed than vice versa. In conclusion, the plant species (as a feeding resource) seem to limit the presence of butterfly species. Thus, this protected area is highly relevant for Lepidoptera diversity and the interaction between these insects and flowering plants. We suggest that studying plant and butterfly diversity in tropical habitats will provide insight into their interspecific interactions and community structure.

Pollination Mechanisms are Driving Orchid Distribution in Space

“…(i) open areas having a higher diversity of bees and butterflies and hosting a higher number of plant species than shaded areas [52][53][54][55][56] or as reported by Eckerter et al 57 (ii) there is higher pollinator activity on flowers at sunny sites. This has two consequences: first, orchids growing in meadows are more likely to be pollinated, as insects are attracted by other meadow species (even belonging to different plant families) that grow nearby (so-called magnet species hypothesis -see above), second, orchids living in forests and other shady habitats have no other choice than to offer some kind of reward (nectar in this case) to attract foraging pollinators.…”

The abundance and diversity of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) in Talaud Islands, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

“…Predators of butterflies are birds, frogs, monkeys, snakes, rats, bats, spiders, and beetles (Miller and Hammond 2007). Butterfly also plays a role in the process of pollination (Abrol 2012;Patil et al 2017;Martínez-Adriano et al 2018). The other role of the butterfly is as a bioindicator of environmental quality (Widhiono 2004;Thomas 2005).…”

The melliferous flora of Veracruz, Mexico

“…The interactions that happen between plant and pollinator play an important role in the structure of communities, in addition to determining the diversity, wealth and persistence of species in a specific locality (Martínez-Adriano et al, 2018). Entomopalynology studies pollen found in the body or in the intestine of insects and provides information about the migration routes and their feeding, in addition to defining the pollination mechanisms and the foraging resources.…”