Abstract
We used butterfly assemblages to evaluate the ecological value of habitat mosaics within garrigue ecosystems in Cyprus. To understand the importance of the local plant communities for Cypriot butterflies, five plots in each of two habitat types (grass-dominated or shrub-dominated) were surveyed weekly for a period of five months in order to assess the abundance, species richness and diversity of butterflies. A total of 810 butterflies of 16 species were recorded. Indices of butterfly diversity, calculated across the whole season, were similar between grassland and shrubland dominated mosaics. However, species richness of all butterflies was consistently higher in grassland dominated mosaics throughout the whole season. The peak abundance of all butterfly species occurred during mid-season (late April - early May), with similar numbers observed in both habitat types. However, a greater abundance was observed during early and late season in grassland patches. The abundance of endemic species (Maniola cypricola, Hipparchia cypriensis, Glaucopsyche paphos) peaked earlier in the season in shrubland patches, but was higher in grassland patches in late season. This difference in seasonal timing of endemic abundance was dominated by the seasonal dynamics of M. cypricola. These results suggest that, while garrigue is characterised by its shrub flora, management to maintain a mosaic of grassland and shrubland could act to maximise the abundance and richness of indicator species groups of conservation importance.
Highlights
The Mediterranean region has been recognized as one of the 18 world biodiversity “hotspots”, holding the world’s second highest percentage of endemic species (Myers, 1990; Blondel & Aronson, 2004)
Data for the spring-summer of 2007 from both habitat types indicate that the highest butterfly abundance occurred between Week 9 and Week 11 which related to the end of April – beginning of May (Fig. 2) This was Species name Anthocharis cardamines Artogeia rapae Pieris brassicae Colias crocea Zerynthia cerisyi Euchloea ausonia Gonepteryx cleopatra Vanessa cardui *Glaucopsyche paphos * Maniola cypricola Pontia edusa Chazara briseis *Hipparchia cypriensis Thymelicus acteon Papilio machaon Lasiommata maera Total abundance Total species
We studied the seasonal dynamics of butterfly abundance and species richness in grassland and shrubland mosaic patches within the garrigue ecosystem of the north-western part of Cyprus
Summary
The Mediterranean region has been recognized as one of the 18 world biodiversity “hotspots”, holding the world’s second highest percentage of endemic species (Myers, 1990; Blondel & Aronson, 2004). Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, situated at the north-eastern end of the Eastern Mediterranean Basin, and is one of the European hotspots of biodiversity and endemism (Medail & Quezel, 1999; Myers et al, 2000; Nadin, 2008). It covers an area of 9251 km and is divisible into four geomorphologic zones; the Kyrenia range, the Troodos mountains, the Mesoria plain (positioned between the Kyrenia range and Troodos mountains), and the Mamonia complex in south west Cyprus (Phillips & Bracewell, 2001; Tsintides et al, 2002; USAID, 2006). Two of the endemic species M. cypricola and G. paphos are of European Conservation Concern (van Swaay & Warren, 1999)
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