Butterfly community dynamics in a monoculture‐dominated agricultural landscape

Abstract

Abstract Understanding biodiversity dynamics in agricultural landscapes is essential for promoting sustainable land use and conserving wildlife. We examined butterfly communities in a monoculture‐dominated landscape, comparing remnant grassland sites surrounded by agricultural land (AGR), grasslands (GR), and forests (FOR). Data were collected from 30 sites across these three categories. We used non‐metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) to assess community composition, rank abundance curves for community structure, and Hill numbers for alpha diversity. Generalised additive models (GAMs) identified key drivers of rare species richness and the abundance of the most common species, Coenonympha pamphilus. Results showed a few dominant species, with most having low abundances. Species richness was similar across all site categories, but differences in evenness and species dominance highlighted variations in community structure. GR and FOR sites had higher numbers of both rare and abundant species, indicating a more balanced distribution compared to AGR sites. NMDS revealed significant differences in composition, especially between FOR and AGR. The GAM results showed that the combination of agricultural land and forest cover enhances rare species richness, while agricultural cover alone had a negative impact. Even for the most common species C. pamphilus, high agricultural cover negatively impacts its population but shifts positively when combined with greater vegetation height in adjacent grasslands. These findings highlight the critical role of forest habitats within monoculture‐dominated landscapes in enhancing butterfly community diversity and stability. The adaptability of butterfly species to agricultural landscapes is limited to a small number of species and only up to a certain extent.