Butterfly fauna (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) in an ecotone between two biodiversity hotspots in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Déborah Soldati,Fernando Amaral Da Silveira,André Roberto Melo Silva

doi:10.11606/1807-0205/2019.59.02

Déborah Soldati, Fernando Amaral Da Silveira + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.11606/1807-0205/2019.59.02

Copy DOI

Abstract

This paper investigates the butterfly fauna of the ‘Serra do Rola-Moça’ State Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil. We evaluate i) the seasonal variation of species richness and composition; and ii) the variation in composition of the local butterfly assemblage among three sampling sites and between the dry and rainy seasons. Sampling was carried out monthly between November 2012 and October 2013, using entomological nets. After a total sampling effort of 504 net hours, 311 species were recorded, one of them endangered in Brazil, and eight probable new species. Furthermore, two species were new records for the region and seven considered endemic of the Cerrado. There was no significant difference in species richness between the dry and the rainy seasons, however the species composition varies significantly among sampling sites. Due to its special, heterogeneous environment, which is home to a rich butterfly fauna, its preservation is important for the conservation of the regional butterfly fauna.

Highlights

The Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado domains present variable landscape structure (Tabarelli et al, 2005; Emery et al, 2006), being considered threatened and important biodiversity hotspots (Mittermeier et al, 2004)
This paper investigates the butterfly fauna of the ‘Serra do Rola-Moça’ State Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil
We evaluate i) the seasonal variation of species richness and composition; and ii) the variation in composition of the local butterfly assemblage among three sampling sites and between the dry and rainy seasons

Summary

Introduction

The Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado domains present variable landscape structure (Tabarelli et al, 2005; Emery et al, 2006), being considered threatened and important biodiversity hotspots (Mittermeier et al, 2004). High butterfly species richness has been recorded in different areas of the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado, as well as in transition areas between those domains, inventories in the various vegetation types in those ecosystems still need to be conducted (Carneiro et al, 2008).

Results

Conclusion