Composition and structure of the frugivorous butterfly community (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) at the Serra Azul State Park (PESA), Mato Grosso, Brazil

Abstract

Due to the important ecological role of Nymphalidae as consumers of fermented fruits, excrement, exudates of decomposed plants and animals, as well as bioindicators of environmental quality that attract the interest of the general public, this study aimed to characterize the fauna of frugivorous butterflies at the Serra Azul State Park – PESA (Mato Grosso, Brazil) with regards to composition, taxonomic richness and spatial distribution. Collections were carried out in 2014 from six 250 m plots in a RAPELD module (5x5 km). We defined five sampling points in each plot and placed a Van Someren-Rydon trap (VSR), with a bait made from banana fermented in cane juice, positioned 1 m above the ground for 24 hours. We collected 204 specimens of Nymphalidae from five subfamilies, 22 genera, and 40 species. Satyrinae was the most abundant and species-rich subfamily. The community structure varied spatially, with the gallery forest presenting the greatest richness, diversity, and equitability, while ‘cerrado ralo’ presented higher abundance and less diversity and equitability. Therefore, according to the pattern of abundance in the PESA, species were best adapted to the log series model. Yphthimoidesrenata (Stoll, 1780) (Satyrinae), Hamadryasferonia (Linnaeus, 1758), and Callicoresorana (Godart, 1824) (Biblidinae) were the most abundant species, 19 species were singletons, and eight were doubletons. Richness estimators showed that 63% of all species were sampled. Our results indicate that the frugivorous butterfly community is structured according to phytophysiognomies, and the dominance of species that are tolerant to disturbances indicates landscape fragmentation within the PESA, which interferes with species substitution pattern and their abundances in different environments of the park.

Habitat heterogeneity supports day-flying Lepidoptera in oil palm plantations

“…Over 60% of the butterflies we recorded were within the family Nymphalidae. This family contains many disturbance-tolerant species, which show a range of feeding strategies, broad habitat ranges, and high dispersal abilities (Armstrong, 2010, Sousa et al 2019, Uehara-Prado and Freitas, 2006). For example, Ypthima spp.…”

Species composition and community structure of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) compared among savanna and forest formations in the southwestern Brazilian Cerrado

“…Four plots were classified as typical savanna, another four as open savanna (both savannas had 356 to 1463 trees ha -1 ), and the other two plots were gallery forest (684 trees ha -1 ) and deciduous forest (586 trees ha -1 ). Vegetation height in both savannas varied from 1 to 13 m, while in both forests height varied from 2.2 to 25 m (Sousa et al 2019).…”

New geographic record in eastern Amazon Forest and potential distribution ofAmphidecta calliomma(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

“…For example, the abundance of species of the subfamily Satyrinae is dependent on the distribution pattern of its host plants, since the larval stage of these butterflies usually develops in monocotyledons whose growth, abundance, and nutritional content are strongly seasonal (Sousa et al, 2019). However, there is still no information on the immature stages of A. calliomma, and consequently, there is no knowledge about its host plant.…”

“…Our study used only climate data to build an environmental suitability model, but other information can be included in distribution modeling to improve predictions, such as land‐use data and biotic interactions (Sobral‐Souza et al, 2021; Wisz et al, 2013). For example, the abundance of species of the subfamily Satyrinae is dependent on the distribution pattern of its host plants, since the larval stage of these butterflies usually develops in monocotyledons whose growth, abundance, and nutritional content are strongly seasonal (Sousa et al, 2019). However, there is still no information on the immature stages of A .…”

“…Among the genera of Neotropical butterflies, Amphidecta Butler, 1867, has very little information available. To date, there are records in Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama, French Guiana, and Brazil (in the states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Rondônia, and Pará) (D'Abrera, 1988; Lamas, 2004; Murray, 2000; Palo, 2017; Pardonnet et al, 2013; Radford et al, 2012; Ramos‐Artunduaga et al, 2021; Salazar, 2019; Silva et al, 2020; Sousa et al, 2019; Ureta, 1941). The species Amphidecta calliomma (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1862) shows a wide distribution over the Neotropic, but low number of occurrence records.…”