Abstract
Champion & Seth classified Indian forests into different ‘forest types and sub-types’, based on similarity of dominant vegetation and structural arrangement of species in each. However, it is not known if the species composition and community structure of butterflies is also different in each forest sub-type. If this is the case then each forest sub-type harbouring unique species can be taken as units of conservation on a sub-regional scale. The present study assesses for the first time the species composition and community structure of butterflies across 20 different and prominent ‘forest sub-types’ found across the state of Uttarakhand, western Himalaya. Data collected over eight years (2006–2009; June 2012; 2017–2020) using random seasonal sampling covering 307 transects revealed 370 butterfly taxa. Hierarchical clustering of butterfly abundances revealed seven different butterfly communities spread over 19 forest subtypes. Of these four forest sub-types (3C/C2a moist Shiwalik sal forest; 12/C2c moist temperate deciduous forest; 12/C1a ban oak forest; & 3C/C2c moist Terai sal forest) were identified as most important as they hold most of the butterfly diversity of the state including 58 rare taxa identified according to ‘rarity’ out of the total. GIS based mapping of these 58 priority species over laid on the protected area network and forest cover distribution in the state revealed many forested sites outside the PA network supporting these rare taxa. These sites along a physio-geographical gradient with important forest sub-types and rare taxa can be recommended and listed as new sites for conservation in the state.
Highlights
Butterflies, amongst invertebrates, are suitable indicators for ecological studies (Lomov et al 2006), as the taxonomy, geographical distribution and status of many species are relatively well known (Pollard 1977; Thomas 1983; Thomas & Mallorie 1985; Murphy & Wilcox 1986)
The precise and restricted environmental requirements of particular butterflies make them of considerable value as a group of indicator taxa that indicate the broader effects of environmental changes or reflects a particular suite of ecological conditions or habitat heterogeneity (Pyle 1980; Gilbert 1980, 1984; Brown 1982; Rosenberg et al 1986; Murphy et al 1990; New 1991; Kermen 1992; Pearman et al 1995)
In this study we tried to evaluate and examine potential ‘forest sub-types’ or ‘a group of forest sub-types’ that have unique butterfly diversity which can be taken up as units of conservation of biodiversity at the state level. This can be helpful in identification of new conservation areas with forest habitats outside the PA network and fill gaps in their connectivity, in the state. The rationale behind this is that many butterfly species are restricted to forested habitats in the state, have geographical distribution spread across the Himalayan region, i.e., western, central, and eastern Himalaya along a wide altitudinal gradient, e.g., Pale Green Sailer Neptis zaida zaida Doubleday, [1848] or Broad-banded Sailer, N. sankara sankara (Kollar, [1844]) (Nymphalidae) both occur in the state between 800–2,500 m, as observed in the present study
Summary
Butterflies, amongst invertebrates, are suitable indicators for ecological studies (Lomov et al 2006), as the taxonomy, geographical distribution and status of many species are relatively well known (Pollard 1977; Thomas 1983; Thomas & Mallorie 1985; Murphy & Wilcox 1986). It is not known if the species composition and community structure of lower groups of animals such as butterflies are different within each ‘forest-subtype’ or each have a unique community of butterflies If this is the case each forest sub-type harbouring unique and rare species can be taken as a unit of conservation on a sub-regional scale (western Himalaya) or state level (Uttarakhand). This can be helpful in identification of new conservation areas with forest habitats outside the PA network and fill gaps in their connectivity, in the state The rationale behind this is that many butterfly species are restricted to forested habitats in the state, have geographical distribution spread across the Himalayan region, i.e., western, central, and eastern Himalaya along a wide altitudinal gradient, e.g., Pale Green Sailer Neptis zaida zaida Doubleday, [1848] or Broad-banded Sailer, N. sankara sankara (Kollar, [1844]) (Nymphalidae) both occur in the state between 800–2,500 m, as observed in the present study. The author had earlier studied butterfly-forest type associations in 11 major “forest sub-types” in the state of Arunachal Pradesh (eastern Himalaya), India (Singh 2017) and identified four forest sub-types: 2B/1S1 sub-Himalayan light alluvial plains semi-evergreen forests; 2B/C1a Assam alluvial plains semi-evergreen forests; 2B/2S2 eastern alluvial secondary semi-evergreen forests, and 3/1S2 b Terminalia-Duabanga as major forest sub-types supporting 415 butterfly taxa along with many rare and endemic species in the northeastern region and eastern Himalaya, but the forest sub-types occurring in these two Himalayan states are totally different from each other
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
