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Fang W, Lin X, Lin Y, Huang S, Huang J, Fan S, Ran C, Dang E, Lin Y, Fu W. The Impact of Urbanization on Taxonomic Diversity and Functional Similarity among Butterfly Communities in Waterfront Green Spaces. INSECTS 2023; 14:851. [PMID: 37999049 PMCID: PMC10671622 DOI: 10.3390/insects14110851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Urbanization has been shown to cause biodiversity loss. However, its effects on butterfly taxonomic and functional diversity still need to be studied, especially in urban waterfront green spaces where mechanisms of impact still need to be explored. We used butterflies as indicators to study how urbanization affects their taxonomic and functional diversity and identify indicator species in different urban ecological gradient areas. From July to September 2022, we surveyed 10 urban waterfront green spaces in Fuzhou City, China. We recorded 1163 butterflies of 28 species from 6 families. First, we explored the effects of urbanization on butterfly communities and made pairwise comparisons of different urban ecological gradients (α-diversity); secondly, we looked for differences between butterfly communities across urban ecological gradients (β-diversity); finally, we investigated differences in the response of butterfly functional groups to different urban ecological gradient areas and identified ecological indicative species. This study found the following: (1) Urbanization has led to the simplification of butterfly community structure, but there are also favorable factors that support the survival of individual butterflies; (2) Urbanization has led to significant differences in butterfly communities and plant-feeding polyphagous butterfly groups; (3) Urbanization has led to differences in the functional diversity of butterfly diet and activity space groups; (4) We identified five eco-indicator species in different urban ecological gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqiang Fang
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 15 Shangxiadian Rd., Fuzhou 350000, China; (W.F.); (X.L.); (Y.L.); (S.H.); (J.H.); (S.F.); (C.R.); (Y.L.)
| | - Xiaoqian Lin
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 15 Shangxiadian Rd., Fuzhou 350000, China; (W.F.); (X.L.); (Y.L.); (S.H.); (J.H.); (S.F.); (C.R.); (Y.L.)
- Engineering Research Center for Forest Park of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, 15 Shangxiadian Rd., Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Ying Lin
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 15 Shangxiadian Rd., Fuzhou 350000, China; (W.F.); (X.L.); (Y.L.); (S.H.); (J.H.); (S.F.); (C.R.); (Y.L.)
| | - Shanjun Huang
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 15 Shangxiadian Rd., Fuzhou 350000, China; (W.F.); (X.L.); (Y.L.); (S.H.); (J.H.); (S.F.); (C.R.); (Y.L.)
| | - Jingkai Huang
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 15 Shangxiadian Rd., Fuzhou 350000, China; (W.F.); (X.L.); (Y.L.); (S.H.); (J.H.); (S.F.); (C.R.); (Y.L.)
| | - Shiyuan Fan
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 15 Shangxiadian Rd., Fuzhou 350000, China; (W.F.); (X.L.); (Y.L.); (S.H.); (J.H.); (S.F.); (C.R.); (Y.L.)
| | - Chengyu Ran
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 15 Shangxiadian Rd., Fuzhou 350000, China; (W.F.); (X.L.); (Y.L.); (S.H.); (J.H.); (S.F.); (C.R.); (Y.L.)
| | - Emily Dang
- Faculty of Forestry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada;
| | - Yuxin Lin
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 15 Shangxiadian Rd., Fuzhou 350000, China; (W.F.); (X.L.); (Y.L.); (S.H.); (J.H.); (S.F.); (C.R.); (Y.L.)
| | - Weicong Fu
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 15 Shangxiadian Rd., Fuzhou 350000, China; (W.F.); (X.L.); (Y.L.); (S.H.); (J.H.); (S.F.); (C.R.); (Y.L.)
- Engineering Research Center for Forest Park of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, 15 Shangxiadian Rd., Fuzhou 350002, China
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Deschamps-Cottin M, Jacek G, Seguinel L, Le Champion C, Robles C, Ternisien M, Duque C, Vila B. A 12-Year Experimental Design to Test the Recovery of Butterfly Biodiversity in an Urban Ecosystem: Lessons from the Parc Urbain des Papillons. INSECTS 2023; 14:780. [PMID: 37887792 PMCID: PMC10607803 DOI: 10.3390/insects14100780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Urbanization is one of the main threats to biodiversity. However, some urban green spaces could act as refuges for urban fauna if the composition of the flora were less horticultural and if a less intensive management strategy is adopted. Among the taxa, butterflies are experiencing a strong decline from European to regional scales. An ecological engineering project based on a plantation of host and nectariferous plants backed up by a well thought out management strategy was carried out in Marseille at the Parc Urbain des Papillons (the Butterflies Urban Park). We assessed its effectiveness by comparing the butterfly communities in this park before and after the engineering work, and we compared it to a neighboring wasteland with natural habitats. After 12 years of the project, the results show a significant change in the species composition. The species richness greatly increased from 25 to 42 species. Some specialist species we targeted appeared, and their numbers increased from one to five. However, three Mediterranean species are still absent compared to the wasteland with natural habitats. As the plant palette used and the management strategy implemented enabled us to significantly increase the number of species, we now plan to work on the structure of the vegetation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magali Deschamps-Cottin
- Laboratoire Population Environnement Développement, Faculté des Sciences, Campus Saint-Charles, Aix Marseille University, IRD, 3 Place Victor-Hugo, CEDEX 3, 13331 Marseille, France; (G.J.); (L.S.); (C.L.C.); (C.R.); (M.T.); (C.D.); (B.V.)
| | - Guillaume Jacek
- Laboratoire Population Environnement Développement, Faculté des Sciences, Campus Saint-Charles, Aix Marseille University, IRD, 3 Place Victor-Hugo, CEDEX 3, 13331 Marseille, France; (G.J.); (L.S.); (C.L.C.); (C.R.); (M.T.); (C.D.); (B.V.)
- Laboratoire Géoarchitecture, Territoires, Urbanisation, Biodiversité, Environnement, Université de Bretagne Occidentale CS93837, CEDEX 3, F-29238 Brest, France
| | - Louise Seguinel
- Laboratoire Population Environnement Développement, Faculté des Sciences, Campus Saint-Charles, Aix Marseille University, IRD, 3 Place Victor-Hugo, CEDEX 3, 13331 Marseille, France; (G.J.); (L.S.); (C.L.C.); (C.R.); (M.T.); (C.D.); (B.V.)
| | - Clémentine Le Champion
- Laboratoire Population Environnement Développement, Faculté des Sciences, Campus Saint-Charles, Aix Marseille University, IRD, 3 Place Victor-Hugo, CEDEX 3, 13331 Marseille, France; (G.J.); (L.S.); (C.L.C.); (C.R.); (M.T.); (C.D.); (B.V.)
| | - Christine Robles
- Laboratoire Population Environnement Développement, Faculté des Sciences, Campus Saint-Charles, Aix Marseille University, IRD, 3 Place Victor-Hugo, CEDEX 3, 13331 Marseille, France; (G.J.); (L.S.); (C.L.C.); (C.R.); (M.T.); (C.D.); (B.V.)
| | - Mélanie Ternisien
- Laboratoire Population Environnement Développement, Faculté des Sciences, Campus Saint-Charles, Aix Marseille University, IRD, 3 Place Victor-Hugo, CEDEX 3, 13331 Marseille, France; (G.J.); (L.S.); (C.L.C.); (C.R.); (M.T.); (C.D.); (B.V.)
| | - Chloé Duque
- Laboratoire Population Environnement Développement, Faculté des Sciences, Campus Saint-Charles, Aix Marseille University, IRD, 3 Place Victor-Hugo, CEDEX 3, 13331 Marseille, France; (G.J.); (L.S.); (C.L.C.); (C.R.); (M.T.); (C.D.); (B.V.)
| | - Bruno Vila
- Laboratoire Population Environnement Développement, Faculté des Sciences, Campus Saint-Charles, Aix Marseille University, IRD, 3 Place Victor-Hugo, CEDEX 3, 13331 Marseille, France; (G.J.); (L.S.); (C.L.C.); (C.R.); (M.T.); (C.D.); (B.V.)
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Lin Y, Huang S, Fang W, Zhao Y, Huang Z, Zheng R, Huang J, Dong J, Fu W. Butterfly Communities Vary under Different Urbanization Types in City Parks. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1775. [PMID: 37889726 PMCID: PMC10252085 DOI: 10.3390/ani13111775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Butterflies are key indicators of urban biodiversity and one of the most vulnerable organism groups to environmental changes. Studying how butterflies are distributed and what factors might influence them in urban green spaces is crucial. In this study, from July 2022 to September 2022, we examined and analyzed the butterfly diversity in nine parks in Fuzhou, China, along three different levels of urbanization (urban, peri-urban, and suburban). We investigated how butterfly communities respond to increasing urbanization. The findings revealed that: (1) A total of 427 butterfly individuals from 4 families and 13 species were observed; (2) Shannon diversity, richness, and abundance of the overall butterfly community were lower in the more urbanized parks. Urbanization had significant effects on Shannon diversity (p = 0.003) and abundance (p = 0.007) but no significant effects on the whole butterfly community richness (p = 0.241); (3) non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed that there were differences in the overall number of butterfly species in urban parks among different geographic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Lin
- College of Landscape Architecture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 15 Shangxiadian Road, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Shanjun Huang
- College of Landscape Architecture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 15 Shangxiadian Road, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Wenqiang Fang
- College of Landscape Architecture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 15 Shangxiadian Road, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yujie Zhao
- College of Landscape Architecture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 15 Shangxiadian Road, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Ziluo Huang
- College of Landscape Architecture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 15 Shangxiadian Road, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Ruoxian Zheng
- College of Landscape Architecture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 15 Shangxiadian Road, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jingkai Huang
- College of Landscape Architecture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 15 Shangxiadian Road, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jiaying Dong
- School of Architecture, Clemson University, 105 Sikes Hall, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Weicong Fu
- College of Landscape Architecture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 15 Shangxiadian Road, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Engineering Research Center for Forest Park of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
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Using Botanical Gardens as Butterfly Gardens: Insights from a Pilot Project in the Gran Sasso and Monti Della Laga National Park (Italy). CONSERVATION 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/conservation3010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Butterfly gardens are green spaces designed as places where butterflies can feed, mate, and rest. Here, we present some perspectives on the possible use of botanical gardens in natural areas as butterfly gardens to promote insect conservation through science dissemination and citizen science activities. We explored this possibility with a project developed in the Botanical Garden of the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park (Italy). We found an extremely high butterfly richness as a result of favorable conditions which can be common in botanical gardens. To promote awareness of insect conservation in the general public and citizen science activities, we have installed within the garden several posters illustrating the butterfly fauna of the park, the species that visitors can easily observe, and the importance of butterfly conservation. Using this case study, we provided reflections and guidelines for the realization and management of butterfly gardens in already existing botanical gardens, especially in natural areas. The realization of butterfly gardens in protected areas to promote awareness of insect conservation, as well as to perform scientific research (namely insect monitoring), may help to ensure that insects will exert a pivotal role in expanding the global network of protected areas under the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
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Thaweepworadej P, Evans KL. Avian species richness and tropical urbanization gradients: Effects of woodland retention and human disturbance. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2586. [PMID: 35333421 PMCID: PMC9541691 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Urbanization is a major driver of tropical biodiversity loss. In temperate regions avian species richness-urbanization intensity relationships typically exhibit unimodal patterns, with peak richness at intermediate urbanization levels. In tropical regions, the form of such relationships and the extent to which they are moderated by patches of seminatural habitat are unclear. We address these questions in Bangkok, Thailand (one of the largest and most rapidly expanding tropical mega-cities) and generate conservation recommendations for tropical biodiversity in urban locations. We use repeated point count surveys at a random location, and the largest available woodland patch, in 150 1 km × 1 km grid cells selected along the urbanization gradient. Woodland patches support higher species richness compared with randomized locations (except for non-natives), and avian species richness declines linearly with increasing urbanization. The contrast with unimodal patterns in temperate regions is probably driven by divergent patterns of habitat heterogeneity along tropical and temperate urbanization gradients. Moreover, we provide novel evidence that retaining patches of urban woodland moderates adverse impacts of urbanization on avian species richness. For most species groups, the benefits of woodland increase as urbanization intensifies, despite such woodland patches being very small (mean of 0.38 ha). Avian species richness in woodland patches is maximized, and community composition less similar to that in randomized locations, when woodland patches are larger and visited by fewer people. Assemblages of forest-dependent species (which provide additional ecological functions) have higher richness, and are less similar to those in randomized locations, in patches of woodland with higher tree species richness and biomass. Finally, species richness in randomized sites is greatest when they are closer to woodland patches, and such assemblages more closely resemble those of woodland sites. Our work highlights four strategies for tropical urban bird conservation: (1) conserving woodland patches across the urbanization gradient regardless of patch size, (2) improving the quality of existing woodland by increasing tree biomass and diversity, (3) creating additional woodland that is well distributed throughout the urban area to minimize effects of habitat isolation and (4) reducing human disturbance, especially in areas of the highest habitat quality, while ensuring that the benefits of connecting people to nature are realized in other locations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karl L. Evans
- School of Biosciences, The University of SheffieldSheffieldUK
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Abstract
AbstractInvertebrates comprise the most diversified animal group on Earth. Due to their long evolutionary history and small size, invertebrates occupy a remarkable range of ecological niches, and play an important role as “ecosystem engineers” by structuring networks of mutualistic and antagonistic ecological interactions in almost all terrestrial ecosystems. Urban forests provide critical ecosystem services to humans, and, as in other systems, invertebrates are central to structuring and maintaining the functioning of urban forests. Identifying the role of invertebrates in urban forests can help elucidate their importance to practitioners and the public, not only to preserve biodiversity in urban environments, but also to make the public aware of their functional importance in maintaining healthy greenspaces. In this review, we examine the multiple functional roles that invertebrates play in urban forests that contribute to ecosystem service provisioning, including pollination, predation, herbivory, seed and microorganism dispersal and organic matter decomposition, but also those that lead to disservices, primarily from a public health perspective, e.g., transmission of invertebrate-borne diseases. We then identify a number of ecological filters that structure urban forest invertebrate communities, such as changes in habitat structure, increased landscape imperviousness, microclimatic changes and pollution. We also discuss the complexity of ways that forest invertebrates respond to urbanisation, including acclimation, local extinction and evolution. Finally, we present management recommendations to support and conserve viable and diverse urban forest invertebrate populations into the future.
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Biella P, Tommasi N, Guzzetti L, Pioltelli E, Labra M, Galimberti A. City climate and landscape structure shape pollinators, nectar and transported pollen along a gradient of urbanization. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Biella
- ZooPlantLab, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences University of Milano‐Bicocca Milan Italy
| | - Nicola Tommasi
- ZooPlantLab, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences University of Milano‐Bicocca Milan Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare ‐ Sez. Milano Bicocca Milan Italy
| | - Lorenzo Guzzetti
- ZooPlantLab, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences University of Milano‐Bicocca Milan Italy
| | - Emiliano Pioltelli
- ZooPlantLab, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences University of Milano‐Bicocca Milan Italy
| | - Massimo Labra
- ZooPlantLab, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences University of Milano‐Bicocca Milan Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare ‐ Sez. Milano Bicocca Milan Italy
| | - Andrea Galimberti
- ZooPlantLab, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences University of Milano‐Bicocca Milan Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare ‐ Sez. Milano Bicocca Milan Italy
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8
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Grassland type and presence of management shape butterfly functional diversity in agricultural and forested landscapes. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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9
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Keren I, Malkinson D, Dorman M, Balaban A, Bar (Kutiel P. The relationship between plant and butterfly richness and composition and socioecological drivers in five adjacent cities along the Mediterranean Coast of Israel. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/juac001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Urbanization is the land-use process that most significantly impacts flora and fauna. We conducted a multiple city comparison of two taxa to assess whether richness patterns are similar across cities and taxa. This study aimed to examine the effects socioecological factors, namely open area size, socioeconomic status and the built-up cover, on species richness and composition of plants and butterflies in five adjacent Mediterranean cities in Israel’s coastal plain. Vegetation surveys were conducted in 170 open area sites in various urban settings. In 34 of them, the presence of butterfly species was also recorded. Mixed-effect generalized linear models were used to examine the site's characteristics effect on the species richness. The identity of each city was included as a random effect in the models. Results indicated that overall plant species richness increased with patch size, whereas butterfly richness was not associated with this factor. Plant and butterfly species richness in all categories decreased with the increase in building cover, except for endemic plant species. The results demonstrate the complex contribution of urban open area patches to the biodiversity of different taxa, being conditional on their size, surrounding built-up area and socioeconomic values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itay Keren
- Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, P.O.B. 653, Israel
| | - Dan Malkinson
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
- Shamir Research Institute, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Michael Dorman
- Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, P.O.B. 653, Israel
| | - Amir Balaban
- The Nili & David Jerusalem Bird Observatory (JBO), Israel Ornithological Center, Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Pua Bar (Kutiel
- Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, P.O.B. 653, Israel
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10
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Tan HA, Harrison L, Nelson J, Lokic M, Rayner JP, Threlfall CG, Baumann J, Marshall A, Callow M, Peeler J, Korossy-Horwood R, Nicholson C, Williams NSG. Designing and managing biodiverse streetscapes: key lessons from the City of Melbourne. Urban Ecosyst 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-021-01188-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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11
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Callaghan CT, Bowler DE, Pereira HM. Thermal flexibility and a generalist life history promote urban affinity in butterflies. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:3532-3546. [PMID: 34056817 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Urban expansion poses a serious threat to biodiversity. Given that the expected area of urban land cover is predicted to increase by 2-3 million km2 by 2050, urban environments are one of the most widespread human-dominated land-uses affecting biodiversity. Responses to urbanization differ greatly among species. Some species are unable to tolerate urban environments (i.e., urban avoiders), others are able to adapt and use areas with moderate levels of urbanization (i.e., urban adapters), and yet others are able to colonize and even thrive in urban environments (i.e., urban exploiters). Quantifying species-specific responses to urbanization remains an important goal, but our current understanding of urban tolerance is heavily biased toward traditionally well-studied taxa (e.g., mammals and birds). We integrated a continuous measure of urbanization-night-time lights-with over 900,000 species' observations from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility to derive a comprehensive analysis of species-specific (N = 158 species) responses of butterflies to urbanization across Europe. The majority of butterfly species included in our analysis avoided urban areas, regardless of whether species' urban affinities were quantified as a mean score of urban affinity across all occurrences (79%) or as a species' response curve to the whole urbanization gradient (55%). We then used species-specific responses to urbanization to assess which life history strategies promote urban affinity in butterflies. These trait-based analyses found strong evidence that the average number of flight months, likely associated with thermal niche breath, and number of adult food types were positively associated with urban affinity, while hostplant specialism was negatively associated with urban affinity. Overall, our results demonstrate that specialist butterflies, both in terms of thermal and diet preferences, are most at risk from increasing urbanization, and should thus be considered in urban planning and prioritized for conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey T Callaghan
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Diana E Bowler
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Ecosystem Services, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Henrique M Pereira
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- CIBIO (Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources)-InBIO (Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology), Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
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12
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Lo FHY, Tsang TPN, Bonebrake TC. Behavior-partitioned diversity reveals differential habitat values of gardens to butterfly communities. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e02331. [PMID: 33756047 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Diversity metrics, essential for habitat evaluation in conservation, are often based on occurrences records with little consideration of behavioral ecology. As species use diverse habitats to perform different behaviors, reliance on occurrence records alone will fail to reveal environmental conditions shaping the behavioral importance of habitats with respect to resource exploitation. Here, we integrated occurrence and behavioral records to quantify diversity and assessed how environmental determinants shape the behavioral importance of gardens to butterflies across Hong Kong. We conducted standardized butterfly sampling and behavioral observation, and recorded environmental variables related to climate, habitat quality, and landscape connectivity. We found differential responses of diversity and behavioral diversity metrics to environmental variables. Connectivity increased taxonomic richness based on occurrence and flying across records, while temperature reduced richness based on occurrence, settling and interaction records. Floral abundance increased richness based on nectaring records only. No environmental variable promoted the average number of behavioral types observed in each taxon. Our results suggest that connectivity and temperature determine the richness of butterflies reaching gardens, while floral abundance determines whether butterflies use the sites as nectaring grounds via modifying species behaviors. Our study demonstrates the utility in integrating behavioral and diversity data to reveal how environmental conditions shape behavioral importance of habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona H Y Lo
- Division of Ecology & Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Toby P N Tsang
- Division of Ecology & Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Timothy C Bonebrake
- Division of Ecology & Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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13
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Ayers AC, Rehan SM. Supporting Bees in Cities: How Bees Are Influenced by Local and Landscape Features. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12020128. [PMID: 33540577 PMCID: PMC7912800 DOI: 10.3390/insects12020128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Cities are complex ecosystems that, while generally contributing to an overall reduction in biodiversity, can support surprisingly unique communities of organisms including bees. Bees are both ecologically and economically essential, therefore preserving and conserving these insects represents a significant challenge as cities continue to expand and diminish surrounding landscapes. Some attempts to support bees in cities have included establishing and improving urban green spaces. Exactly how bees and, to a lesser extent, other pollinators respond to these green spaces in addition to other urban landscape and local features, however, remains incompletely understood. Therefore, this review summarizes the current literature and generalizable trends in pollinator response to urban landscape and local features. While some functional traits or characteristics of bees such as dietary breadth and nesting strategy are more conclusively understood and supported, other characteristics such as sociality remain less generalizable. Lack of knowledge on bee responses to city features is in part due to the individual variation exhibited across different groups and species. To promote greater biodiversity in urban spaces, research should focus on specific responses to urban local and landscape features and how green spaces can be optimized for sustainable bee conservation. Abstract Urbanization is a major anthropogenic driver of decline for ecologically and economically important taxa including bees. Despite their generally negative impact on pollinators, cities can display a surprising degree of biodiversity compared to other landscapes. The pollinating communities found within these environments, however, tend to be filtered by interacting local and landscape features that comprise the urban matrix. Landscape and local features exert variable influence on pollinators within and across taxa, which ultimately affects community composition in such a way that contributes to functional trait homogenization and reduced phylogenetic diversity. Although previous results are not easily generalizable, bees and pollinators displaying functional trait characteristics such as polylectic diet, cavity-nesting behavior, and later emergence appear most abundant across different examined cities. To preserve particularly vulnerable species, most notably specialists that have become underrepresented within city communities, green spaces like parks and urban gardens have been examined as potential refuges. Such spaces are scattered across the urban matrix and vary in pollinator resource availability. Therefore, ensuring such spaces are optimized for pollinators is imperative. This review examines how urban features affect pollinators in addition to ways these green spaces can be manipulated to promote greater pollinator abundance and diversity.
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Differences in Response of Butterfly Diversity and Species Composition in Urban Parks to Land Cover and Local Habitat Variables. FORESTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/f12020140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: As urbanisation is a significant global trend, there is a profound need for biodiversity protection in urban ecosystems. Moreover, the potential of urban green space to support urban biodiversity should be appreciated. Butterflies are environmental indicators that are sensitive to urbanisation. Therefore, it is important to identify butterfly distribution patterns and the factors influencing butterfly diversity and species composition in urban parks within cities. Research Highlights: To our knowledge, ours is the first study evaluating the effects of both land cover and local habitat features on butterfly species composition in urban parks of Beijing, China. Materials and Methods: In this study, we surveyed butterfly richness and abundance in 28 urban parks in Beijing, China. The parks differed in age and location in the urban area. Meanwhile, we investigated the green space in the surroundings of the parks at multi-spatial scales at the landscape level. We also investigated local park characteristics including the age of the park (Age), perimeter/area ratio of the park (SQPRA), area of the park (ha) (Area), green space cover within the park (Greenp), nectar plant species richness (Necpl), abundance of flowering nectar plants (Necabu) and overall plant species richness (Pl). Generalised linear models (GLMs) and redundancy discriminant analysis (RDA) were applied to relate butterfly diversity and butterfly species composition to environmental variables, respectively. Results: We recorded 3617 individuals belonging to 26 species from July to September in 2019. Parks on the city fringe had significantly higher butterfly diversity. Butterfly species richness was mostly related to total plant richness. The abundance of flowering nectar plants was closely linked to butterfly abundance. Land cover had little impact on butterfly diversity and community structure in urban parks. Conclusions: Once a park has sufficient plants and nectar resources, it becomes a useful haven for urban butterflies, regardless of the surrounding land cover. Well-planned urban parks focused on local habitat quality support butterfly conservation.
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