Seasonality and landscape characteristics impact species community structure and temporal dynamics of East African butterflies

Schmitt, Thomas; Ulrich, Werner; Delic, Andjela; Teucher, Mike; Habel, Jan Christian

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-94274-6

Cited by 17 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…However, due to the narrower climatic niches of tropical species (Janzen, 1967), relatively small changes in climate may lead to significant changes in the activity patterns of species. This is true for most arthropods with short life cycles (Maicher et al, 2018; Schmitt et al, 2021), for example, bees.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Floral turnover and climate drive seasonal bee diversity along a tropical elevation gradient

et al. 2022

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The contribution of seasonality in species communities to elevational diversity of tropical insects remains poorly understood. We here assessed seasonal patterns and drivers of bee diversity in the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot, Kenya, to understand the contribution of seasonality to elevational biodiversity patterns. Bee species and plant species visited by bees were recorded on 50 study plots in regrowth vegetation across four major seasons along two elevation gradients from 525 to 2530 m above sea level. Bees were sampled by transect walks using sweep nets and aspirators. We examined how local species richness (α-diversity) and seasonal changes in local species communities (β-diversity) contribute to species richness across seasons (γ-diversity) along elevation gradients. Using a multimodel inference framework, we identified the contribution of climate and floral seasonality to elevational patterns in bee diversity. We found that both αand γ-diversity decreased with elevation. Seasonal β-diversity decreased with elevation and the high turnover of species across seasons contributed to a considerably higher γthan α-diversity on study plots. A combination of seasonality in climate and the seasonal turnover of floral resources best explained the seasonality in bee species communities (seasonal β-diversity). We, therefore, conclude that, despite the more stable, and favorable climatic conditions in the tropics (in comparison to temperate regions), climatic seasonality and its influence on bees' floral resources largely determined seasonal patterns of bee species diversity along elevation gradients on tropical mountains.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Floral turnover and climate drive seasonal bee diversity along a tropical elevation gradient

et al. 2022

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“…Seasonality is an important determinant of resource availability and activity patterns in Lepidoptera [ 23 ] and for tropical Lepidoptera is highly influenced by patterns of precipitation [ 14 , 24 – 29 ]. However, as Maicher et al [ 14 ] note most studies have ignored the influence of seasonality on the elevational distributions of tropical Lepidoptera.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Specifically, we compare the influence of the short to long rains transition versus the long to short rains transition (season), closed versus open habitat structure, family (see Study groups in Methods) and their interactions on the elevational distribution of butterfly species richness and abundance. Based on associations reported from non-elevational studies of tropical butterfly species richness, abundance and seasonality and habitat structure [ 24 – 26 , 28 , 29 ] we hypothesize the following: Butterfly species richness and abundance in the Uluguru Mountains will be higher (1) during the short to long rains transition than during the long to short rains transition; (2) in open than in closed habitats; and (3) at lower than higher elevations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elevational distribution of montane Afrotropical butterflies is influenced by seasonality and habitat structure

et al. 2022

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Determinants of elevational distribution of butterfly species richness and abundance in the tropics are poorly understood. Here we assess the combined effects, both additive and interactive, of seasonality and habitat structure on the elevational distribution of butterflies in the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania. We sampled butterflies along a 1100 m elevational gradient that extended from 1540 to 2639 m using a time-constrained fixed-area method during the short to long rains and long to short rains transitions, and in habitat structure classified as closed or open. We used semi-parametric generalized linear mixed models to assess the relation between butterfly species richness or abundance, and seasonality, habitat structure, family and elevation. For all species combined, species richness declined with elevation in both open and closed habitats during the long to short rains transition. During the short to long rains transition, species richness displayed a mid-elevation peak across habitats. Among the three focal families (Nymphalidae, Papilionidae and Pieridae) similar patterns in the elevational distribution of species richness were observed. Species abundance declined or remained stable with elevation across seasons and habitat structure; the exception being species abundance in open habitat during the short to long rain transition and increased slightly with elevation. Abundance by family did not vary significantly by habitat structure or season. Our results indicate that seasonality and habitat structure shape species richness and abundance of butterflies along an elevational gradient in the Uluguru Mountains. These patterns are important for informing conservation actions because temperature as well as annual and seasonal variation in precipitation are predicted to increase in East Africa as a result of climate change, important determinants of seasonality, while habitat disturbance may increase due to a projected doubling in Tanzania’s population over the next 27 years.

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“…Many studies have explored the seasonal patterns of butterfly communities in different region of the world (Hamer et al ., 2005; Molleman et al ., 2006; Schmitt et al ., 2021). There are several studies on the distribution and composition of butterflies of the Western Ghats (see a list in Padhye et al ., 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Butterfly community dynamics, especially in relation to season and climate change, have been keenly explored (Hamer et al ., 2005; Molleman et al ., 2006; Schmitt et al ., 2021). For example, seasonality and phenology of Mexican butterflies were studied using a large sample of 60,662 individuals (Pozo et al ., 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal dynamics and polyphenism of butterfly communities in the coastal plains of central Western Ghats, India

Naik

Rao

Kunte

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Long-term socioeconomic progress requires a healthy environment/ecosystem, but anthropogenic activities cause environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. Constant ecological monitoring is therefore necessary to assess the state of biodiversity and ecological health. However, baseline data is lacking even for ecologically sensitive regions such as the Western Ghats. We looked at the seasonality and polyphenism of butterflies of the central Western Ghats to get baseline population patterns on these charismatic taxa. We recorded 43118 individuals (175 species) using fortnightly time-constrained counts for two consecutive years, and found the peak abundance (49% of the total individuals) in post-monsoon period (Oct to Jan). The seasonal abundance was correlated with the overall increase in species richness. Habitat differences were stronger than seasonality as samples clustered based on sites. Several species also displayed polyphenism with distinct distributions of wet and dry season forms. Seasonal equitability and indicator species analysis showed distinct inter-species differences in seasonality patterns. This work provides key baseline data on the seasonal dynamics of butterflies of the Western Ghats in the context of climate change and conservation, and will help in future monitoring of this ecologically sensitive region using butterflies.

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Seasonality and landscape characteristics impact species community structure and temporal dynamics of East African butterflies

Cited by 17 publications

References 40 publications

Floral turnover and climate drive seasonal bee diversity along a tropical elevation gradient

Floral turnover and climate drive seasonal bee diversity along a tropical elevation gradient

Elevational distribution of montane Afrotropical butterflies is influenced by seasonality and habitat structure

Seasonal dynamics and polyphenism of butterfly communities in the coastal plains of central Western Ghats, India

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