We provide the first inventory of butterfly species (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in Serra de São José, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Serra de São José has elevations ranging from 800 m to 1,400 m above sea level; the butterflies were sampled using traps and entomological nets in seven plots along the altitudinal gradient. We recorded 647 butterflies belonging to 112 species and six families. We also recorded one threatened species and three endemic species for the Cerrado domain, which suggests that Serra de São José is an important refuge for butterfly conservation.

No abstract

Environmental filters select species that tolerate and respond to habitat conditions similarly. By combining taxonomy, functional traits and phylogeny, we aimed to understand the spatial distribution of a tropical butterfly community, evaluating whether elevation acts as an environmental filter strong enough to select flight‐related traits. Frugivorous and nectarivorous butterflies were sampled with nets at seven altitudinal bands (800–1400 m) in four sampling periods. We tested seven flight‐related traits (wing length, width, and area; thorax volume; wing:thorax ratio [WTR]length, WTRwidth and WTRarea) and incorporated the effects of phylogeny in the relationships among these traits and with elevation. Butterfly diversity decreased with increased elevation, and four traits exhibited larger values at higher elevations: wing length, width, area and WTRarea. This suggests that butterflies tended to have smaller wings and robust bodies at lower elevations, and larger wings with slender bodies at higher elevations, possibly related to flight speed or wind conditions. Although the phylogenetic relatedness did not exert significant weight in the traits and elevation, we found indication of phylogenetic conservatism of wing area and WTR. Butterflies in mountains experience a strong selection by several environmental filters related to flight performance, and our study demonstrated a robust relationship between elevation, flight‐related traits and species distribution. These relationships occurred regardless of phylogenetic relatedness, but most traits are conserved and exhibit resemblance in the phylogenetic lineages of these species. These findings suggest an influence of a widespread filter promoted by the elevational gradient with convergent trait evolution.

We present a novel analysis of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) for butterfly wings at the community-level, along an altitudinal gradient. FA is an important biomonitoring tool that detects deviations of perfect symmetry in bilateral characters, assuming that genetic and/or environmental factors can be a source of stress. This study evaluated the effects of increased altitude on the symmetry of butterfly wings, testing the hypothesis that FA should increase with increased elevation in a tropical mountain. Butterflies were sampled along an altitudinal gradient of 800 to 1.400 m and forewings were detached, scanned and evaluated for symmetry. Length, width and area of the right and left forewings were measured as surrogates for FA and then combined into an index taking into account the variability of wing sizes of the whole butterfly community. We observed true patterns of FA in the length, width and area of the wings, and wing FA area increased with increased altitude. This study pioneered the analysis of FA for a community of butterflies and FA was efficient to detect developmental instability indicated by imperfections in butterfly wings.

Despite the important role of the order Odonata in ecosystems, there is a lack of information about dragonfly communities in several regions, high elevation sites, and environmentally protected areas in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Our objective was to assess the abundance and richness of dragonfly and damselfly communities along an elevational gradient in the Atlantic Forest,southeastern Brazil. This study was conducted in the Fernão Dias Environmental Protection Area,Mantiqueira Mountain region, Gonçalves, Minas Gerais State, in sites covered by Seasonal Semideciduous and mixed forests. This is the first study of Odonata communities in the region. Samplings were carried out on 17 days from October 2019 to March 2020 at three elevation ranges (low,mid, and high). A total of 293 specimens, distributed in 39 species and 9 families, were sampled. Elevation did not influence the richness or abundance of dragonflies but altered community composition. Some species were found to be exclusive to high-elevation sites, such as Heteragrion mantiqueirae Machado, 2006, which was recorded for the first time in Minas Gerais and we provide a description and diagnosis of the single female collected in tandem. A novel species of the genus Brechmorhoga was found to occur at mid and high elevations. The composition of dragonfly communities depends on the degree of preservation and extension of forest areas. Therefore, conservation of forests in Gonçalves is crucial for preserving Odonata diversity in Minas Gerais State.