Butterfly diversity, richness, and density patterns in Sierra Nevada (SE Spain): Conservation implications under a global change scenario

Abstract

Abstract Understanding factors that regulate the patterns of diversity, richness, and density of organisms is of enormous importance to manage biodiversity in a global change context. We investigate the importance of environmental factors in regulating the patterns of diversity, richness, and density of diurnal butterflies in the Sierra Nevada mountain range (SE Spain). Diversity, richness, and density seem to be strongly correlated, being mainly defined by land‐use and topographic‐related variables. The sites with the highest values correspond to areas of dense scrubland, near patches of forest, oriented to the west and with a high rate of solar radiation but not excessively exposed from the topographical point of view. Topographic wetness index seems to be also important but with a positive relation in the case of density and negative in the case of diversity and richness. Our results show a pattern of mid‐elevation maxima, with highest values between 1600 and 2000 masl and lower in the summits and the piedmont (<1400 masl). This brings us the possibility to identify a series of areas of high value for the conservation of butterflies in this protected area, with important applications towards the conservation and management of this group of insects. Finally, a series of management recommendations to improve the conservation status of the butterfly communities in the Sierra Nevada protected area are inferred. One of the main recommendations is based on the maintenance of spatial heterogeneity, taking into account traditional land uses that enhance biodiversity.