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Patterns of
diversity, abundance and habitat associations of butterfly
communities in heterogeneous landscapes of the department of
atomic energy (DAE) campus at Kalpakkam, South India
T. Ramesh1, K. Jahir
Hussain2, M. Selvanayagam1, K. K.
Satpathy2* and M. V. R. Prasad2
1Loyola Institute of Frontier Energy (LIFE), Loyola College,
Chennai- 600 034, India.
2Environmental and Industrial Safety Section, Safety Group, Indira
Gandhi, Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam-603102, India.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
satpathy@igcar.gov.in.
Accepted 28 January, 2010 |
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The diversity of butterflies inhabiting the
department of atomic energy campus at Kalpakkam was recorded
through a modified line transect methodology by setting a
permanent line transect of 300 m and recoding all species of
butterflies observed within a five meter distance around the
observer. Five habitats within the campus viz., Garden,
Scrub jungle, Riparian woods, Sandy area and Casuarina
plantation (Monoculture) were evaluated for
analysis of the association of the butterfly species with
the habitat. A total of 1908 individuals representing 55
species were observed across the five habitat types. Out of
these, members belonging to the family Nymphalidae was the
most common with 20 species being recorded accounting for
36.3% of total species and 53.6% of total number of
individuals collected. The maximum diversity and abundance
was observed in the scrub jungle and garden area; these two
habitats sharing 29 species among themselves. The species
accumulation curve and rarefaction curves computed indicated
the likelihood of encountering more number of species in the
campus had inventory been more rigorous and extended. The
butterfly species viz., Danaus chrysippus,
Castalius rosimon, Tirumala septentrionis,
Ariadne merione, Appears libythea and Cepora
nerissa preferred scrub jungle and garden habitats than
the other habitats. The species profile of butterfly
communities associated with different habitat and the
importance of avian predation in the campus were also
discussed in detail.
Key words:
Butterfly, species composition, habitat association, DAE
campus. |
