Combining sampling techniques aids monitoring of tropical butterflies

Abstract

1. We compared the performance of three common techniques for sampling butterflies in order to better understand any bias associated with each method. This information is still scarce for the Neotropics where butterfly diversity reaches a peak.2. These techniques included use of hand nets, carrion traps with fermented shrimp, and fruit traps with fermented bananas. We examined which taxonomic groups were sampled by each technique and determined the intra-annual and inter-annual (two continuous years) differences in the collection of butterflies from each approach.3. Surveys of butterflies were taken every 2 months, in dry and wet seasons, over a 2-year period, and were carried out in two forests (one wet and one dry) in western Ecuador. 4. A total of 2289 butterflies of 231 species were collected. Hand-netting collected the most species (57% and 60% of total species in the dry and the wet forest, respectively), followed by carrion traps (24% and 23%), and then fruit traps (19% and 16%). Methods differed with respect to the butterfly species they collected most frequently. Moreover, each sampling technique resulted in significant differences in species composition across seasons and years.5. Because our sampling techniques differed in their performance, our study suggests that implementing all the methods together can improve estimates of species diversity and result in more accurate characterisation of butterfly communities. 6. While budget and logistics might constraint the utilisation of multiple techniques, minimally we recommend using both carrion and fruit baits to alleviate the bias of each bait.

Combining functional traits and phylogeny to disentangling Amazonian butterfly assemblages on anthropogenic gradients

“…These combined methods allow complementing the representation of the fruit-feeding guild, including mainly those species that were generally attracted but not necessarily caught (Checa et al 2018). According to Grac ßa et al (2017a), those efforts are enough to meet both the taxonomic and ecological responses of fruit-feeding butterflies in the central Amazon.…”

“…During the review process, two experienced collectors with entomological hand nets (diameter of 40 cm made with a soft wire bag) also performed active samples of fruit-feeding butterflies around the traps, as long as they were visibly attracted by the bait. These combined methods allow complementing the representation of the fruit-feeding guild, including mainly those species that were generally attracted but not necessarily caught (Checa et al 2018). Individuals of each species were collected for subsequent identification and functional trait measurement in the laboratory.…”

Forest stratification shapes allometry and flight morphology of tropical butterflies

“…500 masl) and topography (ridges with 10% inclination). The baits used were rotting banana (2 days of fermentation) and rotten shrimp (15 days of fermentation), based on Checa et al [75]. Each sampling period consisted of 6 days and the traps were checked daily.…”

“…Because few females are captured with our sampling method [75], we only used males for analyses in this study. We selected 8-10 individuals of each species that were in the best physical conditions (i.e.…”

Diversidad de mariposas diurnas (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) en bosques y cultivos de cacao en un área de bosque amazónico basimontano en Bolivia

“…fueron capturadas mayormente por el método manual (91% y 70%, respectivamente), reduciendo la heterogeneidad en este nivel de perturbación. Dado que la perturbación puede afectar de distinta manera a distintos grupos del ensamblaje de mariposas, es importante que las evaluaciones complementen el muestreo con captura manual (Wood and Gillman 1998;Castro and Espinosa 2015;Jakubikova and Kadlec 2015;Graça et al 2017;Checa et al 2019).…”