Spatial Distribution of Pollinating Butterflies in Yunnan Province, Southwest China with Resource Conservation Implications

Zhang, Huihong; Wang, Wenling; Yu, Qi; Xing, Dong-Hui; Xu, Zhen-Bang; Duan, Kuang; Zhu, Jianqing; Zhang, Xin; Li, Yongping; Hu, Shao-Ji

doi:10.3390/insects11080525

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 44 publications

(44 reference statements)

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“…The dramatic differences in elevation and microclimate result in a variety of ecosystems, from tropical savannas along the Indian border to subtropical broad leaf and coniferous forests in the Hilly region and to temperate broadleaf and coniferous forests on the lap of the Himalayas (MoFE, 2018; Tripathi et al., 2020). Indeed, previous work in mountainous areas has shown that topological complexity promotes high species richness (Zhang et al., 2020). Nepal provides another example, as its land area occupies just 0.1% of global area, but it contains 3.2% of the world’s floral diversity and 1.1% of global faunal diversity (MFSC, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While there have been many studies on butterflies from different parts of Nepal (in the Central Himalayan region) (Bhusal & Khanal, 2008; Khanal, 2006; Khanal et al., 2013, 2014; Rai, 2017; Smith & Majupuria, 2006; Suwal et al., 2019), previous studies have focused on the diversity, taxonomy, and distribution of butterflies, and few studies have examined butterfly‐plant interactions (Nepali et al., 2018; Shrestha et al., 2020). However, extensive ecological studies to determine the factors that influence butterfly foraging choices are crucial to improve the ecological utility of butterflies and to preserve them as indicator taxa (Zhang et al., 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Butterfly species diversity and their floral preferences in the Rupa Wetland of Nepal

Subedi

Stewart

Neupane

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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Floral attributes often influence the foraging choices of nectar‐feeding butterflies, given the close association between plants and these butterfly pollinators. The diversity of butterflies is known to a large extent in Nepal, but little information is available on the feeding habits of butterflies. This study was conducted along the periphery of Rupa Wetland from January to December 2019 to assess butterfly species diversity and to identify the factors influencing their foraging choices. In total, we recorded 1535 individuals of 138 species representing all six families. For our examination of butterfly–nectar plant interactions, we recorded a total of 298 individuals belonging to 31 species of butterfly visiting a total of 28 nectar plant species. Overall, total butterfly visitation was found to be significantly influenced by plant category (herbaceous preferred over woody), floral color (yellow white and purple preferred over pink), and corolla type (tubular preferred over nontubular). Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between the proboscis length of butterflies and the corolla tube length of flowers. Examining each butterfly family separately revealed that, for four of the families (Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, and Pieridae), none of the tested factors (flower color, plant category, and corolla type) were shown to significantly influence butterfly abundance at flowers. However, Hesperidae abundance was found to be significantly influenced by both flower color (with more butterflies observed at yellow flowers than purple) and flower type (with more butterflies observed at tubular flowers than nontubular flowers). Our results reveal that Rupa Lake is a suitable habitat for butterflies, providing valuable floral resources. Hence, further detailed studies encompassing all seasons, a greater variety of plants, and other influential factors in different ecological regions are fundamental for creating favorable environments to sustain important butterfly pollinators and help create balanced wetland ecosystems.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Butterfly species diversity and their floral preferences in the Rupa Wetland of Nepal

Subedi

Stewart

Neupane

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Areas of high endemism should also be a future priority; the commonly applied parsimony analysis of endemicity affiliated with GIS could provide such vital information for conservation planning [111][112][113][114]. Recent research revealing the spatial character of pollinating butterflies in Yunnan could be a starting point [115].…”

Section: Identify High Priority Areas and Refugiamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been demonstrated that changes in land use management (e.g., increasing landscape heterogeneity, control of alien plant species, introduction of butterfly attracting plants, maintenance of unmanaged hedges, decreased use of PPPs/organic farming, etc.) can solve the dilemma and increase the diversity, abundance, and ecological service functions of butterflies in agroecosystems worldwide [115,[148][149][150][151][152][153][154][155][156].…”

Section: Using Umbrella Species To Boost Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Butterfly Conservation in China: From Science to Action

Wang

Suman

Zhang

et al. 2020

Insects

Self Cite

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About 10% of the Earth’s butterfly species inhabit the highly diverse ecosystems of China. Important for the ecological, economic, and cultural services they provide, many butterfly species experience threats from land use shifts and climate change. China has recently adopted policies to protect the nation’s biodiversity resources. This essay examines the current management of butterflies in China and suggests various easily implementable actions that could improve these conservation efforts. Our recommendations are based on the observations of a transdisciplinary group of entomologists and environmental policy specialists. Our analysis draws on other successful examples around the world that China may wish to consider. China needs to modify its scientific methodologies behind butterfly conservation management: revising the criteria for listing protected species, focusing on umbrella species for broader protection, identifying high priority areas and refugia for conservation, among others. Rural and urban land uses that provide heterogeneous habitats, as well as butterfly host and nectar plants, must be promoted. Butterfly ranching and farming may also provide opportunities for sustainable community development. Many possibilities exist for incorporating observations of citizen scientists into butterfly data collection at broad spatial and temporal scales. Our recommendations further the ten Priority Areas of China’s National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2011–2030).

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“…In the Himalayan ecosystem of North-East India, settling moths were found to be the vital component of pollination (Singh et al, 2022). In the Yunnan Province of Southwest China, the researchers identified 554 species of pollinating butterflies, and their potential pollinating service could be a great contribution to montane agriculture, which has expanding areas of cash crops and fruit horticulture (Zhang et al, 2020). Except the above spatial research, the temporal research showed that the adult Lepidoptera were often complementary to the diurnal pollinators (Singh et al, 2022; Souza et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lepidoptera proboscis pollens are mainly derived from nectar

Chen

Lin

et al. 2023

Preprint

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The pollens which are rejected or ignored by the dry stigma can`t germinate since they haven`t acquired sugar solution from dry stigmas. But almost all research has ignored the participation of insects which may transport pollens from the nectar to stigmas, and that pollens may germinate on the dry stigma since they have soaked in the nectar. So, the key question is that whether insects carry pollens from nectar to the stigma. Since the adult Lepidoptera are important to the plant pollination and there is a general consensus that pollens are mainly deposited on the proboscis of adult Lepidoptera, and pollens are ubiquitous in the nectar of field flowers, we simulated the flower environment to conduct several groups of behavioral experiments in the adult Mythimna separata by controlling the presence, absence or movement of pollens in nectar, then counted and compared the proboscis pollens. We found that the pollens on the proboscis were mainly derived from the nectar. Our conclusion may contributes to the research of pollen germination on stigmas, especially the dry stigma, and also shows the importance of adult Lepidoptera to pollination, even supports the coevolution of Lepidoptera and angiosperm.

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Spatial Distribution of Pollinating Butterflies in Yunnan Province, Southwest China with Resource Conservation Implications

Cited by 7 publications

References 44 publications

Butterfly species diversity and their floral preferences in the Rupa Wetland of Nepal

Butterfly species diversity and their floral preferences in the Rupa Wetland of Nepal

Butterfly Conservation in China: From Science to Action

Lepidoptera proboscis pollens are mainly derived from nectar

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