Changes in Vegetation Cover and Their Effects on the Diversity of Fruit-Feeding Butterflies

Abstract

Tropical dry forests (TDFs) have been altered by anthropogenic disturbances, particularly deforestation for pastures creation, which impacts plant and animal composition, abundance, and ecological processes. This study examined the spatio-temporal variation of fruit-feeding butterfly assemblage along an environmental gradient (forest interior, transition zone, and pasture) in TDFs at “Serra da Jacobina”, a mountain range 220 km long in Brazil. Butterflies were collected using 234 baited traps across nine transects in both the dry and rainy seasons. A total of 1091 individuals belonging to 35 species of the Nymphalidae family were sampled. Butterfly composition did not differ between environments or seasons, but forests showed higher abundance and richness, which were positively related to tree density. Species richness peaked in the rainy season, though abundance remained consistent. Eight species served as habitat indicators, with Hamadryas februa being the strongest indicator of old-growth forests; showing highest abundance in the forest interior and decreasing towards the pasture. Conversely, two species (Hamadryas feronia and Callicore sorana) showed the opposite pattern, predominating in pastures. Changes in land cover and tree density were key factors influencing butterfly assemblages. Longer pasture rotation and the preservation of native and fruit trees can help maintain insect diversity and ecosystem services, including those provided by fruit-feeding butterflies.