Limited erosion of genetic and species diversity from small forest patches: Sacred forest groves in an Afrotropical biodiversity hotspot have high conservation value for butterflies

Abstract

Sacred forest groves are often located in some of the world's hottest hotspots of biodiversity, and consequently have high potential conservation value. Recent efforts to quantify their value have focused nearly exclusively on a single component of diversity, species diversity within communities, which may or may not be an effective proxy for a second fundamental component of diversity, genetic diversity within populations. We studied fruit-feeding butterfly communities to simultaneously assess to what extent five small sacred groves have retained the level of species and genetic diversity found in two much larger forest reserves. We additionally evaluate whether measures correlate across habitat fragments to investigate how closely these two components of diversity mirror each other. We quantified the diversity and composition of the fruit-feeding butterfly communities at each site and also the haplotype diversity within three specific species that differ with respect to their sensitivity to habitat fragmentation. Of the multiple measures of species and genetic diversity computed, only rarefied species richness was correlated with forest fragment size and even in this case the relationship was weak. Importantly, the limited decline in species richness documented in the sacred groves was not due to species replacements, whereby common, broadly distributed, generalists supplanted more vulnerable species in these communities. Although similar processes are known to drive declines in both species and gene diversity, we found only limited evidence of positive species-genetic diversity correlations (SGDCs), and only in the species most sensitive to fragmentation. Thus, a conservation strategy that emphasizes species complementarity or richness may be ineffective at capturing other critical levels of biodiversity. Overall, our findings demonstrate that even very small forest patches can have a conservation value that rivals that of much larger forest reserves. The implementation of official national and international initiatives that preserve and strengthen existing community-based conservation practices are critically needed to ensure that indigenous conservation areas persist into the future.

Endangered but genetically stable—Erythrophleum fordii within Feng Shui woodlands in suburbanized villages

“…Furthermore, they can provide a source for rural afforestation and play a key role in ecological networks. Globally, CPFs are distinctive elements of worldwide vegetations, and they naturally and seminaturally distribute in and around urban areas (Avtzis et al, ; Bossart & Antwi, ; Hu et al, ; Lee et al, ). Similar to Feng Shui woodlands in China, most of the plant species in CPFs are not considered being threatened in the near future.…”

“…They are important rural/urban forest types worldwide including Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. They are known as Feng Shui woodlands in China (Ye, Xu, Wu, & Cao, ) and sacred groves (Avtzis et al, ; Bossart & Antwi, ) and village groves (Lee, Hong, & Kim, ) in the other countries. They are generally small in size but can serve as refuges for a large number of regional species (Avtzis et al, ; Bossart & Antwi, ; Hu et al, ; Lee et al, ; Martinez & Amar, ).…”

Conservation through Biocultural Heritage—Examples from Sub-Saharan Africa

“…Estimates in Ghana suggest there are 2000-3200 such sacred sites [141]. Studies within sacred groves on the Accra Plains found that the biomass and diversity of small mammals often exceed that of surrounding biomes [141]; similar correlations have also been made more recently regarding butterfly populations [142]. In the Loma area in Liberia, dominated by the Upper Guinea forests, sacred areas are often the sites of old towns or graves and the long history and mobility of people and settlements has created a dense network of such sacred areas [143].…”

Butterfly Conservation in China: From Science to Action

“…These culturally protected forests are manifestations of traditional Chinese spatial concepts of beauty and are referred to as village fengshui forests. As heterogeneous habitat spaces, they likely harbour greater insect diversity than surrounding areas and certainly promote regional biodiversity [ 192 , 193 ]. Further research will demonstrate the relationship between these culturally protected forests and butterfly diversity.…”