The community characteristics and month dynamics of butterfly at different habitats in the Badagongshan National Nature Reserve

Abstract

To explore the butterfly community composition and its altitude distribution in the Badagongshan National Nature Reserve, we investigated and analyzed the butterfly populations of different habitats at different altitudes, and continuously observed the monthly dynamics of their populations in 2016-2018. In this study, we recorded 6,164 butterfly individuals, belonging to 5 families, 107 genera, and 191 species. The survey results showed that the butterfly individuals recorded in low-altitude (250-450 m) and high-altitude (1,200-1,400 m) habitats were mainly Popilioninae and Pierinae, respectively, but mid-altitude (700-900 m) habitats did not have obvious dominant butterfly groups. Similarity analyses showed that there was a high proportion of common species (> 59%) in each habitat, but the individual distribution of these species in different habitats was different. Seasonal dynamic analyses showed that the butterflies in the Badagongshan were in the rising period from April to June including the species, individuals and diversity indices, usually reaching a peak in July, and then gradually decreasing from August to September. In general, the composition of the butterfly community in the Badagongshan is vertically distributed along the altitude gradient with heterogeneity between high and low altitude habitats and a transitional state at the middle altitude. The butterfly community in the Badagongshan showed consistent seasonal dynamics with a high percentage of •研究报告• 第 8 期 陈梦悦等: 八大公山国家级自然保护区不同生境蝶类群落特征与月动态 951 蝴蝶多样性观测专栏species turnover. High altitude habitats had a shorter active period and higher species turnover than lower altitudes.