安徽鹞落坪国家级自然保护区蝶类的垂直分布及其群落多样性

采用定点法、样线法和随机调查法,2005-2008年间对安徽鹞落坪国家级自然保护区蝶类垂直分布及群落多样性进行调查.本次调查共捕获蝶类3681只,隶属于10科69属111种,其中蛱蝶科的物种数、个体数和多样性指数均高于其他各科;该地区蝶类呈现由东洋界向古北界过渡的特征,且随着海拔的升高东洋界种类逐渐递减,古北界种类逐渐增多.在3个垂直带中（海拔低于800 m、800～1200 m、高于1200 m）,海拔800～1200 m垂直带的蝶类种类最丰富.研究区6种主要生境类型（落叶阔叶林、常绿针叶林、针阔混交林、灌木和次生林、农田、居民点）中,灌木和次生林中蝶类的物种数和个体数量、物种多样性指数均高于其他各生境类型,农田生境中蝶类多样性指数最低;生境之间蝶类物种的相似性系数主要与生境构成要素中的植被类型有关,植被类型相差越大,蝶类物种的相似性系数就越小,研究区针阔混交林与灌木和次生林之间的蝶类物种相似性系数最高（0.61）,而常绿针叶林与灌木和次生林之间的相似性系数最低（0.20）.     

长白山北坡植物群落组成、结构及物种多样性的垂直分布

通过沿海拔梯度的系统调查,运用TWINSPAN分类方法,划分出长白山北坡的主要植物群落类型,对这些群落的组成和结构进行了分析。利用物种丰富度、α多样性和β多样性等指标,研究了群落多样性随海拔梯度的变化趋势。结果表明,乔木层植物可分为4个群落类型：从低海拔到高海拔依次为红松(Pinus koraiensis)针阔混交林、红松针阔叶树种与云冷杉组成的过渡群落、云冷杉暗针叶林以及岳桦林(Betula ermanii)。乔木层优势种重要值的分析清楚地反映出长白山北坡植被垂直带谱的优势成分。径级频度分布的分析表明该区域主要群落的自我更新状况良好。植物物种多样性随海拔梯度的变化趋势为：随海拔升高,乔木层和灌木层的物种丰富度呈下降趋势,但草本层的变化趋势不明显;乔木层和灌木层的α多样性(Shannon-Wiener指数)呈下降趋势,草本层则变化不明显;无论是木本层还是草本层的Pielou均匀度指数均没有明显的变化;乔木层、灌木层和草本层植物的β多样性(Cody指数)均随着海拔的升高而下降。     

不同生境中杉阔混交林物种多样性特征初步研究

根据生境因子应用主分量分析和动态聚类方法进行生境的划分,在此基础上分析不同生境中杉阔混交林群落数量特征。结果表明：不同生境中植物群落的主要优势种组成不一,其重要值也不同。不同生境中植物群落乔木层的物种数目、物种多样性、群落均匀度均有较大差异。海拔对不同生境中植物群落乔木层的物种数目、物种多样性和群落均匀度有很大影响,坡向则对个体总数和种类的影响较大。海拔和坡向对不同生境中植物群落乔木层生态优势度则无明显影响,应该重视不同生境中杉阔混交林多样性的保护。     

晋中万柏林生态园不同海拔及干扰程度访桃花昆虫群落差异

[目的]明确万柏林生态园不同海拔及干扰程度访桃花昆虫群落组成、丰富度、多度和多样性参数差异。[方法]不同海拔高度,设置不同生境样地,定点定树拍照法采样,利用统计学分析方法,分析万柏林生态园不同海拔及干扰程度分类阶元访桃花昆虫群落物种组成、丰富度、多度及多样性。[结果]经鉴定,万柏林生态园共采集访桃花昆虫126个体,15种;游人汽车干扰强小生境、汽车干扰小生境、游人汽车干扰强生境、汽车干扰生境、游人汽车干扰弱生境、游人干扰生境中各采到访桃花昆虫7种、4种、7种、4种、10种和8种。相同年份内游人汽车干扰强小生境与游人汽车干扰强生境、汽车干扰强生境访桃花昆虫群落极相似(q=1.000),游人汽车干扰强小生境、游人汽车干扰强生境与汽车干扰小生境、汽车干扰生境访桃花昆虫群落极不相似(q=0.100);低海拔样地访桃花昆虫群落丰富度(R=10)和多度(P=46)分别低于高海拔样地访桃花昆虫群落丰富度(R=12)和多度(P=82)。[结论]不同海拔及干扰程度访桃花昆虫群落丰富度、多度和多样性参数存在差异;不同干扰程度桃园生境中特有访桃花昆虫物种可作为生境指示物种;优势访桃花昆虫物种可作为桃树传粉昆虫。万柏林生态园桃树花期与果成熟期,干扰严重,需要大力保护花期与果期桃园。     

海拔高度对江油地区杉木人工林群落结构和物种多样性的影响

物种多样性是群落功能复杂性和稳定性的重要量度指标,海拔高度是影响物种多样性的重要因素。该实验采用典型样地法,在800~900m(低海拔)和1 100~1 200m(高海拔)2个海拔高度分别取4个20m×20m的样地,对江油地区的杉木人工林群落结构和物种多样性进行研究,采用物种丰富度指数(D)、Shannon-Wienner多样性指数(H)、Simpson优势度指数(H′)和均匀度指数(Jsw)来综合衡量不同海拔杉木人工林群落的物种多样性。结果表明:(1)组成江油杉木人工林的物种共计205种,分属66科177属;低海拔地区乔木7种,灌木54种,草本47种;高海拔地区乔木10种,灌木60种,草本41种。(2)低海拔和高海拔的木本植物组成无明显差异,草本层的物种组成有明显差异。(3)群落各层次的物种多样性指数在低海拔和高海拔都表现为:灌木层草本层乔木层,乔木层的各项指数最低;物种多样性指数随海拔升高在特定区间内表现出一定规律性,D、H和Jsw值总体上呈高海拔低海拔,H′则相反,表明高海拔杉木人工林物种多样性和物种在群落中分布的均匀度都有增加的趋势,这与高海拔受人为干扰较轻以及环境因子的变化等密切相关。     

历山森林群落物种多样性与群落结构研究

采用多样性指数、丰富度指数和均匀度指数对山西历山森林群落物种多样性进行了研究.结果表明,各群落类型的物种多样性指数的顺序为：青榨槭＋五角枫林>青榨槭＋鹅耳枥林>辽东栎林>栓皮栎林>华山松＋红桦林>油松＋栎林>白桦林>侧柏＋栓皮栎林>红桦林>华山松林>侧柏林>油松林>红桦＋山杨林;森林群落灌木层多样性指数和丰富度指数大于草本层和乔木层,而均匀度指数在乔木层、灌木层和草本层则表现出多样化的趋势;海拔1 000～1 920 m之间,Shannon-Wiener指数、Hill多样性指数及物种丰富度与海拔梯度均呈正相关(P<0.05),海拔大于1 920 m则呈现负相关;这些指数沿海拔梯度的变化呈现出“中间高度膨胀”的规律,即中等海拔高度上物种多样性高而低海拔和高海拔物种多样性低.这主要是由于在中海拔（约1 900 m）地段水热条件组合较好,人类活动干扰较少所致.     

库姆塔格沙漠南缘荒漠植物群落多样性分析

 根据20个样地的调查资料,应用重要值计算多样性指数、均匀度指数、丰富度指数 、优势度指数,对库姆塔格沙漠南缘荒漠植物群落物种多样性进行分析。结果表明: 1）荒漠植物群落分布随其生境地貌不同而不同,山前戈壁上分布有合头草(Sympegma regelii)群落,冲积河道低地分布有荒漠林胡杨(Populus euphratica)、多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosissima)、胀果甘草（Glycyrrhiza inflata）群落,戈壁沙漠过渡带为梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron)群落,低海拔的沙山上分布有沙拐枣(Calligonum mongolicum)群落、膜果麻黄(Ephedra rzewalskii)群落和梭梭群落。2）荒漠植物群落物种多样性水平较低,群落结构简单,物种组成单一。群落Shannon_Wiener物种多样性水平表现为合头草群落最高（1.706）,具有草原化荒漠植被类型的成分;梭梭群落、膜果麻黄群落居中（0.875～0.890）,荒漠植被类型特征明显;沙拐枣群落、胡杨群落、多枝 柽柳群落、胀果甘草群落较低（0.079～0.495）,荒漠林、盐地沙生灌丛及盐化草甸植被均有零星分布。3）荒漠植物群落结构层次中,灌木层占居主导地位,群落灌木层物种多样性水平（0.769～1.451）远远大于草本层（0.193～0.254）,且草本层物种多样性受灌木层影响较大。4）荒漠植物群落物种多样性分布格局表现为经向、纬向和海拔梯度的变化,经向、纬向变化为物种多样性水平较高的草原化植物合头草群落（1.706）向物种多样性水平较低的荒漠植物梭梭群落（1.379）和盐化植物多枝柽柳群落（0.376）的过渡,海拔梯度则 呈现低水平的沙拐枣群落（0.819）到高水平的膜果麻黄群落（0.890）向低水平的梭梭群落 （0.645）变化。荒漠植物群落过渡地带一般具有较高的物种多样性和较低的生态优势度。     

长白山不同演替阶段针阔混交林群落物种多样性及其影响因子

基于长白山3个5.2hm²针阔混交林永久监测样地的野外调查数据,以胸径(DBH)≥1cm的乔木树种为对象,运用R4.0.3软件计算物种多样性指数以及进行物种多样性相关性分析和多元回归分析,以探讨生物和非生物因素对不同演替阶段针阔混交林物种多样性的影响。结果表明：(1)3个典型针阔混交林的4个物种多样性指数均随演替的正向进行而下降,其中物种丰富度、Shannon-Wiener指数和Simpson指数在3个演替阶段存在显著性差异,而Pielou均匀度指数在次生杨桦林与次生针阔混交林阶段差异不显著。(2)胸径结构变量是影响物种多样性变化的主要驱动因子,随着演替的进行,林分密度对物种多样性产生的影响越来越大。(3)所有土壤因子在针阔混交林阶段对物种多样性指数均表现出显著的影响,而在次生杨桦林只有土壤全氮与物种多样性指数存在显著相关关系,土壤全磷在原始椴树红松林阶段是影响物种多样性的主要因素。综上,研究认为在各演替阶段,生物和非生物因素均影响着森林群落的物种多样性,胸径结构和林分密度是影响群落物种多样性的主要因素,林分中的土壤因子受到不同群落特征的影响产生不同变化,从而对群落的物种多样性产生影响也有所不同。     

深圳梧桐山风景区昆虫资源调查及群落结构分析

2012年7月-2013年7月,对深圳梧桐山风景区昆虫资源进行系统调查,并对其群落结构进行分析。期间共采集昆虫标本2934号,鉴定出166种,隶属17目98科。通过对不同生境昆虫物种丰富度和多样性指数统计分析得出,亚热带常绿阔叶林昆虫物种多样性指数最高,为3.29;南亚热带常绿灌丛昆虫多样性指数最低,为1.88。各种生境昆虫物种多样性指数从大到小排列为:亚热带常绿阔叶林南亚热带针阔叶混交林南亚热带人工常绿阔叶林南亚热带常绿灌丛。不同生境昆虫群落相似性系数在0.0889-0.2690之间,随着植被构成和环境小气候的差别越大相似性系数越小,说明梧桐山风景区各个生境之间昆虫群落具有一定的独立性。通过对不同垂直地带昆虫物种多样性指数统计分析得出,海拔介于300-600 m地带昆虫物种多样性指数最高,为3.30,海拔900 m以上地带昆虫多样性指数最低,为1.06。不同垂直地带昆虫多样性指数从大到小排列顺序为:海拔300-600 m海拔600-900 m海拔100-300 m海拔900 m以上。     

重庆大巴山国家级自然保护区森林植物多样性垂直格局

以重庆大巴山国家级自然保护区西南方向沿海拔梯度选择的20个样地为研究对象,通过等级聚类分析,结合物种重要值、物种丰富度、区系分化强度和α、β多样性指数等方面的分析,以揭示其森林植物多样性沿海拔梯度的分布特征。结果表明:(1)在20个样方中,共记录到维管植物97科226属335种;随着海拔上升,各样地植物科、属、种总数大体上呈先增加后降低的趋势。(2)植物群落在垂直梯度上差异显著;综合群落生长型和等级聚类分析结果,将群落沿海拔梯度划分为4个类型:海拔1 000m以下为常绿阔叶林和偏暖性针阔混交林,1 000~1 600m为常绿落叶阔叶混交林,1 600~2 100m为偏暖湿性针阔混交林,海拔2 100m以上为暗针叶林。(3)α多样性指数具有垂直变化规律;Simpson优势度和Pielou均匀度随海拔变化较小,乔木层Shannon-Wiener指数随海拔升高有明显降低的趋势,混交林类型的物种多样性和区系分化强度较高。(4)β多样性指数在低海拔区段起伏较大;随着海拔升高,乔木层Cody指数的变化格局总体上呈逐渐降低的趋势,相邻群落间物种异质性逐渐减小,物种的替代速率下降,最终达到相对稳定的状态。     

The differences of butterfly (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) communities in habitats with various degrees of disturbance and altitudes in tropical forests of Vietnam

A survey was conducted on the species composition, richness and abundance of Papilionoidea (excluding Lycaenidae) butterfly fauna in habitats with various degrees of disturbance and altitudes in tropical forests at Tam Dao National Park, northern Vietnam in 2001. The transect method was used to collect data in the survey. Six transects representing different habitat types at two sites, one site located at a low elevation of 200–250 m a.s.l., and the other located at a high elevation of 950–1000 m a.s.l., were chosen: three transects for each site, with a length of 500 m for each transect. A total of 3594 individuals of 127 species in 240 sets of data were recorded from various habitats. The differences in butterfly composition, species richness, abundance and diversity in different habitat types and altitudes were analyzed. The results showed significant differences of butterfly diversity among the different habitat types and between the low and high altitude sites. The butterfly diversity, species richness and species abundance in the low elevation habitats were higher than in the high elevation habitats. The highest diversity of butterflies occurred in the mixed habitats of agriculture, scrub and clearing lands of high disturbance. However, butterflies most important for conservation are associated with undisturbed or moderately disturbed forests only.     

Diversity and similarity of butterfly communities in five different habitat types at Tam Dao National Park, Vietnam

Diversity and similarity of butterfly communities were assessed in five different habitat types (from natural closed forest to agricultural lands) in the mountains of Tam Dao National Park, Vietnam for 3 years from 2002 to 2004. The line transect count was used to record species richness and abundance of butterfly communities in the different habitat types. For each habitat, the number of species and individuals, and indices of species richness, evenness and diversity of butterfly communities were calculated. The results indicated that species richness and abundance of butterfly communities were low in the natural closed forest, higher in the disturbed forest, highest in the forest edge, lower in the shrub habitat and lowest in the agricultural lands. The indices of species richness, evenness and diversity of butterfly communities were low in agricultural lands and natural closed forest but highest in the forest edge and shrub habitats. The families Satyridae and Amathusiidae have the greatest species richness and abundance in the natural closed forest, with a reduction in their species richness and abundance from the natural closed forest to the agricultural lands. Species composition of butterfly communities was different among five different habitat types (40%), was similar in habitats outside the forest (68%) and was similar in habitats inside the forest (63%). Diversity and abundance of butterfly communities are not different between the natural closed forest and the agriculture lands, but species composition changed greatly between these habitat types. A positive correlation between the size of species geographical distribution range and increasing habitat disturbance was found. The most characteristic natural closed forest species have the smallest geographical distribution range.     

Interacting effects of landscape context and habitat quality on flower visiting insects in agricultural landscapes

Landscape context and habitat quality may have pronounced effects on the diversity of flower visiting insects. We investigated whether the effects of landscape context and habitat quality on flower visiting insects interact in agricultural landscapes in the Netherlands. Landscape context was expressed as the area of semi-natural habitats or the density of linear landscape features, and was quantified at spatial scales ranging from 250 to 2000 m. Habitat quality was determined as flower abundance. Species richness and abundance of hoverflies and bees were determined along 16 stream banks experiencing similar environmental conditions but situated in areas with contrasting landscape context. Only flower abundance and the area of semi-natural habitats within 500–1000 m were significantly related to species richness of hoverflies and bees and these factors had interacting effects on both species groups. Our results suggest that the regional area of semi-natural habitats had a positive effect on hoverfly species richness when flower abundance was relatively high, but not when flower abundance was low. Moreover, flower abundance had positive effects on hoverfly species richness only in areas with relatively many semi-natural habitats. Contrastingly, flower abundance had a more positive effect on bee species richness in landscapes with few semi-natural habitats compared to landscapes with more semi-natural habitats. Our results suggest that the importance of landscape context for the species richness of flower visiting insects depends upon the quality of the habitat patches.     

Acridids as indicators of disturbance in dry deciduous forest of West Bengal in India

Acridid communities are sensitive to anthropogenic disturbance and the community structure of acridids plays vital role in functioning the forest ecosystem. They are potentially useful bioindicators for conservation planning and habitat disturbances. Acridid assemblages of three different habitat types based on degree of disturbance as follows five natural sites, five moderately disturbed sites and five highly disturbed sites in Chaupahari forest, West Bengal, India were studied. Diversity, abundance, equitability and species richness of acridid were observed in respect to undisturbed and disturbed habitats. The species richness and diversity of the sites tracked the intensity of disturbance, the greatest value being associated with the natural site followed by the moderately disturbed site and highly disturbed site. The highest species richness and diversity index indicate the suitable habitat for acridid population. Statistical analysis infers that different species show different behavior and the sites are also different in relation to different habitat types.     

Temporal shifts and niche overlapping in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Copestylum</Emphasis> (Diptera,Syrphidae) communities reared in cactus species in a central Mexican scrubland

Semiarid scrubland communities are highly dynamic in terms of their species composition, abundance, and functioning, given the drastic changes in climate among seasons. Spatiotemporal patterns of saprophagous Copestylum (Diptera: Syrphidae) communities in different cactus species richness have not yet been studied, although seasonal changes and plant species richness have been shown to strongly impact the diversity and distribution of many insect communities in scrublands. We analyzed the impact of seasonality and of habitat type (disturbed and undisturbed) on Copestylum communities reared from cactus species at the Barranca de Metztitlán Biosphere Reserve, in central Mexico, by comparing their community structure between seasons and habitats, and assessing the contribution of diversity components for the total diversity of this genus. We also measured patterns of temporal niche overlap among hoverfly species considering their breeding medium. Seasonal variation influenced Copestylum community composition most significantly. Species richness and abundance of Copestylum were higher in the rainy season. Additive partitioning of diversity showed that the main component for species richness is beta diversity between seasons. We detected high niche overlap during the dry season and low overlap during the rainy season. This study provides evidence of temporal shifts in xeric hoverfly communities and suggests that the Copestylum species partition resources over time.     

Habitat disturbance and small mammal richness and diversity in an Atlantic rainforest area in southeastern Brazil.

Since disturbance is an important ecological factor affecting species diversity in natural environments, the increasing human occupation rate in Brazilian Atlantic rainforest, which supports about 50% of Brazil's human population, has resulted in intense habitat degradation and fragmentation. Within this rainforest, animal and plant species have been lost at a high rate, and biological and diversity is presently vulnerable. Various animals community studies along a gradient of environmental disturbances have shown that the highest species diversities occur in habitats with intermediate levels of disturbance frequency and intensity. In the present study, which was carried out in the Atlantic forest of Ilha Grande (23 degrees 11' S and 44 degrees 12' W), an island located on the southern coast of Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil, we estimated species richness, diversity, and abundance of small mammals in three forest areas having different disturbance levels. This was done, in each of these areas and in an anthropic area that they surround, by establishing trails 200 m long, in which points were marked at 20 m intervals. The work involved a total effort of 4800 trap/nights. We also measured some habitat variables at each site in order to evaluated their disturbance levels. Our data showed that the two most conserved forests had the lower species richness and small mammal diversity, while in the anthropic area wild species were absent. The forest with an intermediary level of disturbance showed higher values for species richness and diversity, with the anthropic area presenting the highest disturbance level.     

齐云山国家级自然保护区蝴蝶群落多样性

为研究齐云山国家级自然保护区蝴蝶群落多样性, 2016年4月至2018年10月, 作者在江西齐云山国家级自然保护区不同生境选取5条长2,000 m的固定样线进行了每年6次、累计18次的蝶类多样性调查。共记录到蝴蝶6,946只, 隶属5科106属189种, 其中东洋界种类是优势类群(183种, 占总种数的96.8%)。蛱蝶科的种类最多(81种, 占42.9%), 其物种丰富度指数(R = 8.42)、多样性指数(H′= 3.21)和优势度指数(D = 0.60)较高, 属于优势类群。齐云山国家级自然保护区蝴蝶个体数从4月开始逐渐增加, 到6-7月基本稳定并维持到10月;物种数在4-10月基本稳定, 具有较高的多样性指数。保护区内不同生境观测样线的蝴蝶种类和数目有较大的差异: 针阔混交林的桐江样线蝴蝶种类(126种, 占66.7%)及数目(1,945只, 占28.2%)最多, 其物种丰富度指数(R = 16.51)最高; 常绿阔叶林的上十八垒样线蝴蝶数目相对较少(905只, 占13.0%), 但是蝴蝶种类相对较多(103种, 占54.5%), 所以多样性指数(H′= 3.93)和优势度指数(D = 0.85)较高; 农田和果园生境的三角潭样线由于生境简单且人为干扰强度较大, 蝴蝶物种数相对较少(97种, 占51.3%)。研究表明: 江西省齐云山国家级自然保护区的蝴蝶区系组成以东洋区为绝对主导的分布类型, 蝴蝶群落多样性与生境类型有明显的相关性, 季节性的农耕活动、除草剂农药的大量使用、寄主植物的大量砍伐等人类活动威胁到蝴蝶的多样性及蝶类群落结构的稳定性。     

Flower resource and land management drives hoverfly communities and bee abundance in seminatural and agricultural grasslands

Pollination is a key ecosystem service, and appropriate management, particularly in agricultural systems, is essential to maintain a diversity of pollinator guilds. However, management recommendations frequently focus on maintaining plant communities, with the assumption that associated invertebrate populations will be sustained. We tested whether plant community, flower resources, and soil moisture would influence hoverfly (Syrphidae) abundance and species richness in floristically‐rich seminatural and floristically impoverished agricultural grassland communities in Wales (U.K.) and compared these to two Hymenoptera genera, Bombus, and Lasioglossum. Interactions between environmental variables were tested using generalized linear modeling, and hoverfly community composition examined using canonical correspondence analysis. There was no difference in hoverfly abundance, species richness, or bee abundance, between grassland types. There was a positive association between hoverfly abundance, species richness, and flower abundance in unimproved grasslands. However, this was not evident in agriculturally improved grassland, possibly reflecting intrinsically low flower resource in these habitats, or the presence of plant species with low or relatively inaccessible nectar resources. There was no association between soil moisture content and hoverfly abundance or species richness. Hoverfly community composition was influenced by agricultural improvement and the amount of flower resource. Hoverfly species with semiaquatic larvae were associated with both seminatural and agricultural wet grasslands, possibly because of localized larval habitat. Despite the absence of differences in hoverfly abundance and species richness, distinct hoverfly communities are associated with marshy grasslands, agriculturally improved marshy grasslands, and unimproved dry grasslands, but not with improved dry grasslands. Grassland plant community cannot be used as a proxy for pollinator community. Management of grasslands should aim to maximize the pollinator feeding resource, as well as maintain plant communities. Retaining waterlogged ground may enhance the number of hoverflies with semiaquatic larvae.     

A comparison of the diversity and structure of butterfly communities in semi-natural and human-modified grassland habitats at the foot of Mt. Fuji, central Japan

To examine the effects of human land use and disturbance on butterfly communities we compared the diversity and structure of communities in relatively undisturbed, semi-natural grassland habitats and highly disturbed, human-modified ones. Comparisons were based on transect counts conducted at 6 study sites at the foot of Mt. Fuji in the cool temperate zone of central Japan during 1995. Out of the six community parameters used in the analyses, the species richness, species diversities H and 1/, and dominance indices were significantly different between the two habitat types stated above. That is, butterfly communities in semi-natural habitats had higher species richness and diversity, and lower dominance indices than those in human-modified ones. This suggests that heavy land modification and disturbance to semi-natural habitats change greatly its butterfly community structure, which, indeed, leads to decreasing species richness and diversity mainly due to the loss of species that are confined to semi-natural habitats. Through the comparisons of various species' characteristics, it was found that the species confined to semi-natural habitats had lower population abundance, fewer generations per year, more restricted local distributions, and narrower geographic range size in Japan than the other component species. Based on our results, it is critical that the persistence of the species that are limited to semi-natural habitats be ensured in order to maintain high species richness and diversity in grassland butterfly communities. Thus, conservation plans that retain as much semi-natural habitat as possible within the process of human grassland use, development, and modification are needed.     

Effects of anthropogenic habitat disturbance on local pollinator diversity and species turnover across a precipitation gradient

Anthropogenic habitat disturbance can have profound effects on multiple components of forest biotas including pollinator assemblages. We assessed the effect of small-scale disturbance on local richness, abundance, diversity and evenness of insect pollinator fauna; and how habitat disturbance affected species turnover across the landscape and overall diversity along a precipitation gradient in NW Patagonia (Argentina). We evaluated the effect of disturbance on overall pollinator fauna and then separately for bees (i.e. Apoidea) and non-bee pollinators. Locally, disturbed habitats had significantly higher pollinator species richness and abundances than undisturbed habitats for the whole pollinator assemblage, but not for bees or non-bees separately. However, significant differences in species richness between habitats vanished after accounting for differences in abundance between habitat types. At a local scale Shannon–Weaver diversity and evenness did not vary with disturbance. A β diversity index indicated that, across forest types, species turnover was lower between disturbed habitats than between undisturbed habitats. In addition, rarefaction curves showed that disturbed habitats as a whole accumulated fewer species than undisturbed habitats at equivalent sample sizes. We concluded that small patches of disturbed habitat have a negligible effect on local pollinator diversity; however, habitat disturbance reduced β diversity through a homogenization of the pollinator fauna (in particular of bees) across the landscape.