The diversity and abundance of North American butterflies vary with habitat disturbance and geography

Abstract

Aim We used data from the annual Fourth of July Butterfly Count for the years 1989-97 to examine patterns of species richness and total butterfly abundance across North America and within topographically diverse and disturbed landscapes.Location We analysed counts from 514 different locations in North America. The counts represent all areas of the USA and southern Canada, with a few Mexican sites as well, although most counts were in the eastern USA.Methods First, we standardized published count data according to the effort expended per count (total party-hours). Using regression analysis and analysis of variance, we then examined the impact of latitude, longitude, topographical relief, habitat disturbance and different climatic measures on the species richness and total abundance of butterflies per count. We also examined the abundance of exotic species in disturbed landscapes. ResultsOur analyses suggest that: (1) species richness is highest at low latitudes and near Rocky Mountain longitudes; (2) the total abundance of individuals is highest in northern US latitudes and Great Plains longitudes; (3) species richness but not total abundance increases with greater topographical relief; (4) species richness and diversity indices are lower in more disturbed habitats; and (5) the abundance of the introduced Pieris rapae (L.) is greater in more disturbed habitats.Main conclusions Different factors control the abundance and species richness of North American butterflies. Along with geographical location, habitat disturbance and topographical variability affect species richness. Our analysis also shows the value of broad-based monitoring regimes, such as the North American Fourth of July Butterfly Count.

Distribution patterns of charaxinae (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Yucatan Península, Mexico

“…On the other hand, distribution patterns of biodiversity may vary according to a geographic or environmental gradient (Murray et al 1999;Kocher & Williams 2000). In the present case, latitude (that is, distance to the base of YP or Nuclear Central America, the putative biogeographic origin of most taxa in the region; Bussing [1976]) was not so relevant for richness, which is relatively homogeneous latitudinally, refuting a "peninsular effect" as such.…”

“…We analyze presence-absence of species, and patterns of richness and abundance, which are determined by environmental heterogeneity (Brown & Opler 1990;Murray et al 1999;Kocher & Williams 2000;Cowley et al 2001a;Cowley et al 2001b;Matter et al 2003). Also, we will try to discard a possible peninsula effect in the distribution patterns of the Charaxinae of the PY (Simpson 1964;Seib 1980;Brown 1987;Brown & Opler 1990;Martin & Gurrea 1990).…”

<b>Butterfly fauna of Baghmundi, Purulia, West Bengal, India: a preliminary checklist</b>

“…o r g / J o T T _ P o l fi c y _ a g a fi n s t _ S c fi e n fi fi c _M fi s c o n d u c t F o r r e p r fi n t s c o n t a c t < fi n ff o@ t h r e a t e n e d t a x a . o r g > Butterflies are a taxonomically well-studied group throughout the world (Ghazoul 2002) and are indicator taxa in terms of habitat quality and anthropogenic disturbance (Kocher & Williams 2000). More than 18,000 butterfly species have been documented worldwide (Heppner 1998;Martinez et al 2003;Larsen et al 2011 has a sub-tropical climate and is characterized by high evaporation and low precipitation.…”

Spatial and temporal dimensions of butterfly species diversity in Jahangirnagar University campus and its suburbs, Bangladesh

“…But it was observed in the present study that the natural plant habitat being converted with exotic plant species (Acacia sp) in Chandra (Sal forest) and monocultures that may be responsible for the poor species richness and diversity of butterfly (Nagy et al, 1998;Kocher, 2000;Marini-Filho et al, 2010;Majumder et al, 2013). Acacia sp.…”

“…In this present study, lowest number of butterfly species was recorded at Chandra (68 species) and highest number was recorded at JU Campus (98 species) ( Table 2). Nabinagar and Chandra were more vulnerable to butterflies, because of the introduction of exotic plant species and monocultures (Nagy et al, 1998;Kocher, 2000;Marini-Filho et al, 2010;Majumder et al, 2013), contamination of soil, air and water quality by disposal of industrial waste and chemicals (Rima, 2014), human interference (Kocher & Williams, 2000).…”