scholarly journals Bees and Butterflies in Burned and Unburned Alvar Woodland: Evidence for the Importance of Postfire Succession to Insect Pollinator Diversity in an Imperiled Ecosystem

2012 ◽  
Vol 125 (4) ◽  
pp. 297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alana N. Taylor ◽  
Paul M. Catling

The apparent importance of successional habitat to pollinating insects, specifically bees (Hymenoptera) and butterflies (Lepidoptera) was quantified in an alvar landscape in the Ottawa valley through a comparison of burned and unburned alvar woodland. The two adjacent habitats on the same successional gradient were sampled by sweeping with additional data from pitfall traps for bees and by direct observation with close focus binoculars and occasional verification through capture with a net for butterflies. The sampling was done during 11 visits in 2008 beginning 16 May and ending 13 September. Both bee and butterfly diversity were higher in the post-fire burned alvar woodland compared to the adjacent unburned woodland based on species richness, number of individuals and Brillouin’s Biodiversity Index which takes evenness and heterogeneity into account. No bees were captured in the unburned area, but 34 species and 201 individuals were captured in the burned site. The most abundant bee species was Augochlora aurata. Lepidoptera were represented in the burned site by 35 species and 408 individuals compared to 15 species and 21 individuals in the unburned woodland. The most common butterfly species in the burned woodland was Callophrys polios. The higher diversity of pollinators in the burned site was correlated with both higher vascular plant diversity and much higher cover and frequency values for insect-pollinated plants providing nectar and pollen including flowering shrubs such as Amelanchier alnifolia var. compacta, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Prunus virginiana. The burned site also provided more cover of larval food plants for butterflies and apparently more nesting sites for bees. We suggest that a decrease in fire frequency and in the availability of open successional habitats are contributing factors in the decline of pollinators, and that endangered ecosystems where fire has been a natural phenomenon may require fire or fire-simulated management to sustain their biodiversity.

Author(s):  
Michael F Braby

This is the first complete field guide to all butterfly species on Australia’s mainland and its remote islands. Written by one of Australia's leading lepidopterists, it is stunningly illustrated with colour photographs of each of the 416 currently identified species. There is also a distribution map for each species on the Australian mainland. It covers the five major family groups: Hesperiidae, Paplionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae and Lycaenidae, as well as the family Riodinidae, which has but a single species in Australia. The introduction covers adult structure, classification, distribution and habitats, and life cycle and behaviour. This is followed by accounts of each of the 416 species, giving common name, scientific name, and other names (if any), as well as details of behaviour, habitat, status, and larval food plants. Accompanying each species is a distribution map, and photographs of the upperside and underside of both male and female specimens. The book also contains a checklist of all species, a list of entomological contacts, a glossary, a bibliography, an index of common names and an index of scientific names.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 17731-17740
Author(s):  
Himesh Dilruwan Jayasinghe ◽  
Sarath Sanjeewa Rajapakshe ◽  
Tharindu Ranasinghe

Larval food plants (LFPs) of Sri Lankan butterflies have been well documented recently with the aid of studies done by numerous researchers.  In this paper, we present further records, 118 LFPs used by 83 butterflies and 145 plant-butterfly combinations.  LFPs of Lethe dynsate and Potanthus pseudomaesa pseudomaesa are reported for the first time in Sri Lanka.  Important observations, possible LFPs and LFP preferences of rare and threatened butterfly species, are discussed.  This information on plant-butterfly interactions will play an important role in conservation management of both plant and butterfly species.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 237
Author(s):  
Suchi Gandhi ◽  
Dolly Kumar

Background: The world is currently undergoing a very rapid loss of butterfly biodiversity comparable with the great mass extinction events that have previously occurred only five or six times in the Earth’s history. This is an alarming call of these tiny scraps of biodiversity which now have scarce appearance surrounding the huge human kingdom.Objective: The richness of biodiversity depends on the climatic conditions and area of the region. The present research work focuses on studying butterflies diversity, their habitat preferences and seasonal distribution in structured plots of Waghai Botanical Garden.Method: For carrying out systematic study, Waghai Botanical Garden was fragmented into five sub habitats i.e. Dry & Moist Deciduous plot, Evergreen plot, Bamboo plot & Dang plot, Scrub Thorn Forest & Medicinal & Taxonomy plot. Intra-individual comparative abundance study for observed butterfly species within fragmented plots of Waghai botanical garden was carried out graphically to study the butterfly’s preference in the plots of botanical garden.Results: Out of 70 species, the maximum number of species i.e. 27 species were observed from family Nymphalidae, followed by 18 species from Lycaenidae, 15 species from Pieridae, Papilionidae with 7 species and 3 species from Hesperiidae.Conclusion: During post-monsoon season, highest total average rainfall of around 850 mm was observed in Waghai during monsoon, which provided excellent quality and quantity of larval food plants for the caterpillars and nectar rich flower source for adult butterflies in post-monsoon months. Thus maximum numbers of butterflies’ species were observed during the months of October & November.


Author(s):  
Mitrajit Deb ◽  
Sunil Nautiyal ◽  
Petr Sláma ◽  
Parimal C. Bhattacharjee ◽  
Shubhadeep Roychoudhury

Northeast India is amongst most bio-diverse ecological communities although recent developmental activities marred the environment to a great extent. Assam University campus in Silchar is situated in Barak valley of Assam, boasting a variety of habitats supporting invertebrate diversity. Heavy rainfall during monsoon increases vegetation and in turn larval food plants and overall butterfly density. Total 38 butterfly species were identified belonging to 30 genera under 5 families: Nymphalidae having the maximum species richness (58%), followed by Hesperiidae (13%), Lycaenidae (13%), Pieridae (11%) and Papilionidae (5%). This paper focuses on the problems and possible solutions towards butterfly conservation and highlights the role of academic institutions in conserving biodiversity by acting as green spaces for reducing effects of climate change, carbon sequestration and lowering of energy consumption among other benefits.


Author(s):  
Michael Braby

As fascinating as they are beautiful, butterflies are a pleasure to watch and an important group of invertebrates to study. This second edition of the award-winning book The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia is a fully updated guide to all butterfly species on Australia's mainland and remote islands. Written by one of Australia's leading lepidopterists, the book is stunningly illustrated with colour photographs, many of which are new, of each of the 435 currently recognised species. There is also a distribution map and flight chart for each species on the Australian mainland, together with information on similar species, variation, behaviour, habitat, status and larval food plants. The introduction to the book covers adult structure, higher classification, distribution and habitats, as well as life cycle and behaviour. A new chapter on collecting and preserving butterflies is included. There is also an updated checklist of all species, a glossary, a bibliography and indexes of common and scientific names.


Author(s):  
Michael F Braby

This outstanding work is the ultimate guide for the identification of Australia’s butterflies. Nearly 400 species – all those currently recognised from Australia, plus those from surrounding islands – are represented, with all adults and some immature stages displayed in stunning colour sections. Introductory chapters cover the history of publications, classification, morphology, distribution, conservation and collection, together with a checklist of the butterfly fauna. The body of the text is arranged systematically, providing a wealth of information including description, variation, similar behaviour, distribution and habitat, and major literature references, giving a comprehensive summary of the present state of knowledge of these insects. Appendices provide details of those species recorded from Australian islands outside the Australian faunal subregion, those protected by legislation, the larval food plants, and the attendant ants. Extensive references, a glossary and an index of scientific and common names complete the work. Joint Winner of the 2001 Whitley Medal. Finalist Scholarly Reference section - The Australian Awards for Excellence in Educational Publishing 2001.


1934 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 290-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. McDunnough

Forty-three species of the Tortricid genus Peronea are dealt with, comprising all the species known to occur in Canada at the present time and including practically all of the North American ones. Characters found in both the male and female genital organs have been used as a means of specific differentiation and there are eight sets of figures illustrating these organs. The range of variation in color and pattern of the individual species is briefly discussed and records of distribution and larval food-plants are given as far as present knowledge permits. Seven species new to science are described.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 5-18
Author(s):  
Sebastián R. Zeballos ◽  
Marcelo R. Cabido ◽  
Juan J. Cantero ◽  
Alicia T.R. Acosta ◽  
M. Virginia Palchetti ◽  
...  

Aims: Trithrinax campestris is one of the palm species with the southernmost distribution in the Neotropics. Despite that the vegetation types in which T. campestris occurs are nowadays heavily threatened by land use and land cover changes, their floristic composition and structure are still to be documented. In order to characterize T. campestris habitats, the aim of this study was to describe the floristic composition of the vegetation types in which this palm occurs and their relationships with different environmental factors. Study area: The survey was conducted in central Argentina in an area comprising the southern extreme of the distribution of T. campestris in the following phytogeographic areas: Espinal, Lowland and Mountain Chaco. Methods: Following the Braun-Blanquet approach we collected 92 floristic relevés recording a total of 601 vascular plant species. Vegetation was classified through the ISOPAM hierarchical analysis. Bioclimatic and elevation data were related to the floristic data through the ISOMAP ordination. Remote-sensed images (Landsat TM, ETM+ and OLI) were used to characterize the fire frequency in the 92 stands. Results: Four vegetation types that differed in floristic composition and in diagnostic species were discriminated: 1.1 Celtis tala/Sida rhombifolia closed forest; 1.2 Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco/Prosopis kuntzei open forest; 2.1 Jarava pseudoichu/Vachellia caven open savanna; and 2.2 Acalypha variabilis/Nassella cordobensis scrubland. The ISOMAP ordination showed that differences in floristic composition were related to elevation, topography and climatic variables.Out of the 92 stands, only 21 showed the occurrence of fires during the period 1999–2018. Conclusions: Our results evidenced that vegetation types (forests, savannas and scrublands) comprising T. campestris developed in a wide range of environmental conditions. This is the first study that focuses on all vegetation types in which T. campestris occurs in central Argentina and it is relevant for conservation and sustainable management of the only native palm species in the flora of this part of the country. Taxonomic reference: Catálogo de las Plantas Vasculares del Cono Sur (Zuloaga et al. 2008) and its online update (http://www.darwin.edu.ar). Abbreviations: ISOMAP = isometric feature mapping; ISOPAM = isometric partitioning around medoids.


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