Diversity and Status of Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) found in PC Hills, Leyte (Philippines)

Year 2021, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 25 - 37, 30.06.2021

Sean Ed Gregory Igano Ranz Brendan Gabor Baron Arthur Cabalona Numerıano Amer Gutierrez

Abstract

Variations in habitat quality is a known factor in the distribution patterns and abundance of butterflies. Research on butterfly population also provide evidence on how vegetation type influence butterfly diversity. This study assessed the Rhopalocera diversity of PC Hills to elucidate the diversity trends in varying vegetation types. PC Hills (Philippines) is a relatively undisturbed area of forests and rivers, transect sampling technique was applied in monitoring and documenting the butterflies’ species richness and diversity. Three transects were established based on vegetation type: agroecosystem, dipterocarp forest, and riparian ecosystem. eight sampling sessions resulted to seven hundred forty-six individuals observed, of which twenty-two Rhopalocera genera were identified morphologically. Thirty-five voucher specimen were classified to the species taxonomic level using DNA Barcoding. The highest diversity level was observed in the third transect (H’ = 3.0449), followed by the second transect (H’ = 2.7876) and the lowest being in the first transect (H’ = 2.3593). Of the 36 species of butterflies, only Notocrypta paralysos volux was categorized by IUCN conservation status as Vulnerable. This study indicates that butterflies are likely to inhabit dipterocarp and riparian vegetation types which then influences their species composition and diversity.

Keywords

diversity, DNA barcoding, morphology, Rhopalocera

Thanks

The researchers wholeheartedly express their sincerest gratitude to the following persons in one way or another, made this study possible. We would like to thank Mr. Rodrigo Miralles, for his help with the GPS coordinates and Topographic Maps. We also extend our gratitude to Mr. Wilmar Mullon, Neufranco Niño P. Zamoras, Jemer Japag, and Joseph Remoto who accompanied us during our sampling collections. We would also like to extend our thanks to Mr. Carlo Chris Apurillo of the Center for Research in Sciene and Technology for his assistance by providing us resources to conduct DNA Barcoding. To Nico Quimsing, Iana Jane Puayap, and Ms. Donnabelle M. Conde for helping us do some final preparations. Lastly, we thank our families for supporting us all throughout the whole research especially when financial assistance was needed. To all other people who, by simple yet meaningful ways, inspired us to make this research a reality.

References

• [1] S. Willis, J. Hill, C. Thomas, D. Roy, R. Fox, D. Blakeley and B. Huntley, "Assisted colonization in a changing climate: a test-study using two U.K. butterflies.," Conservation Letters, no. 2, pp. 46-52, 2009.
• [2] K. Nuneza, O. Nuneza and A. Barrion-Dupo, "Species richness of Lepidoptera in bega watershed, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sura, Philippines.," Bulletin of Enironment, Pharmacology, and Life Sciences, vol. 5, pp. 83-90, 2016.
• [3] P. Nowicki, J. Settele and P. W. M. Henry, "Butterfly monitoring methods: the ideal and the real world.," Israel Journal of Ecology and Evolution, vol. 54, pp. 69-88, 2008.
• [4] D. Roy, P. Rothery, D. Moss, E. Pollard and J. Thomas, "Butterfly numbers and weather: Predicting historical trends in abundance and the future effects of climate change.," Journal of Animal Ecology, vol. 70, p. 201 – 217, 2008.
• [5] J. Thomas, "Monitoring change in the abundance and distribution of insects using butterflies and other indicator groups. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London.," Series B, Biological sciences, vol. 360, p. 339–357., 2005.
• [6] A. Caldas and R. Robbins, "Modified Pollard transects for assessing tropical butterfly abundance and diversity.," Biological Conservation,, vol. 110, p. 211 – 219., 2003..
• [7] A. Mohagan and C. Treadaway, "Diversity and status of butterflies across vegetation types of Mt. Hamiguitan, Davao Oriental, Philippines.," Asian Journal of Biodiversity, 2010.
• [8] A. Mohagan, D. Mohagan and A. Tambuli, "Diversity of butterflies in the selected key biodiversity areas of Mindanao, Philippines.," Asian Journal of Biodiversity, 2011.
• [9] J. Toledo and A. Mohagan, "Diversity and status of butterflies in Mt. Timpoong and Mt. Hibok-hibok, Camiguin Island, Philippines.," JPAIR Multidisciplinary Research, 2011.
• [10] P. M. Staff, "Republic Act No. 9147.," 2001. [Online]. Available: https://www.pms.gov.ph/. [Accessed May 2020].
• [11] R. Ramirez and A. Mohagan, "Diversity and status of butterflies in Maitum Village, Tandag, Surigao del Sur, Philippines.," Asian Journal of Biodiversity, 2012.
• [12] O. H. D. Zoo, "Butterfly: taking science to the backyard.," 2011.
• [13] J. Badon, L. Lahom-Cristobal and A. Talavera, "Illustrated Lists of Philippine Butterflies.," 2013. [Online].
• [14] D. Micklos, G. Freyer and D. Crotty, in DNA Science, New York, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2003, p. 575 pp..
• [15] R. Colwell and J. Elsensohn, "EstimateS turns 20: statistical estimation of species richness and shared species from samples, with non-parametric extrapolation.," Ecography, vol. 37, p. 609–613., 2014.
• [16] J. R. Sovell, "Butterfly Community Monitoring on City Of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Property: Analysis of the Changes in Species Richness and Diversity from 2002 to 2016.," Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 2017.
• [17] C. &. S. H. Treadaway, "Revised checklist of the butterflies of the Philippine Islands (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera).," Frankfurt am Main: Entomologischer Verein Apollo, 2012.
• [18] L. Vu and C. Vu, "Diversity Pattern of Butterfly Communities (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidae) in Different Habitat Types in a Tropical Rain Forest of Southern Vietnam," nternational Scholarly Research Notices, 2011.
• [19] F. Danielsen and C. Treadaway, "Priority conservation areas for butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) in the Philippine islands.," Animal Conservation, vol. 7, p. 79 – 92. , 2004.
• [20] IUCN, "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2020-1.," 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.iucnredlist.org.. [Accessed August 2020].
• [21] A. Rodrigues, J. Pilgrim, J. Lamoreux, M. Hoffmann and T. Brooks, "The value of the IUCN Red List for conservation.," Trends in Ecology & Evolution, vol. 21, pp. 71-76, 2006.
• [22] C. Goforth, "Collecting insects: making an insect kill jar.," 2010. [Online]. Available: https://thedragonflywoman.com/2010/10/05/killjars/ . [Accessed September 2018].