Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2014; 2 (6): 123-130 ISSN 2320-7078 Pattern of butterfly distribution and biodiversity JEZS 2014; 2 (6): 123-130 © 2014 JEZS in spatial and temporal dimensions in North Iran Received: 24-10-2014 Accepted: 15-11-2014 Raheleh Mehrabi, Haji Gholi Kami, Gholamreza Bagheri, Kalpana Pai, Raheleh Mehrabi Farhad Alipour a) Lecturer, Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Abstract University of Damghan, A study on Butterflies (Lepidoptera), was carried out in the region of Semnan and Mazandaran Province, Damghan, Semnan province, Iran, from the 1st May 2009 till the 1st October 2009. Butterfly’s sampling was done at 20 collection Iran. stations, placed at the diverse sites of the provinces with absolutely different climatic condition and also b) PhD, Department of Zoology, remarkable variety in flowering variation in the herb layer. The study resulted in record of 6222 butterfly University of Pune, Pune, Maharashtra 411007, India. specimen representing five different families and 96 species. In addition α-diversity in spatial and temporal dimensions, and β-diversity of butterflies in this survey were utilized to study the biodiversity Haji Gholi Kami of butterflies. In spatial dimension, Syah Khani and Nam Rud showed the highest and lowest species Associated Prof, Department of diversity, respectively; Firuz Kuh and Bastam showed the highest and lowest evenness, respectively, and Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Khosh Yeylaq and Bastam showed the highest and lowest richness index, respectively. While in temporal University of Golestan University, dimension, June and May showed the highest and lowest species diversity; July and September showed Gorgan, Iran. the highest and lowest richness, and September and June showed the highest and lowest species evenness index, respectively. Syah khani station in the month of June, and Behshahr station in the month of Gholamreza Bagheri September showed the highest and lowest species richness, respectively. Syah khani station in the month Lecturer, Zabol University of of June, and Bastam station in the month of August showed the highest and lowest species diversity, Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran. respectively. As for the species evenness, the maximum and minimum values were seen in Kelateh Rudbar in the month of July and Gursefid in the month of May, respectively. In view point of β-diversity Kalpana Pai Kelateh rudbar was more widespread transect and Syah khani was the more restricted transect. Znd also Associated Prof, Department of Kelateh rudbar and Cheshme Ali indicated more similarity in species composition and Behshahr and Zoology, University of Pune, Syah khani showed more dissimilarity in context of species composition. Pune, Maharashtra 411007, India. Keywords: α-diversity; β-diversity; Butterfly; dissimilarity; similarity; spatial dimensions; Iran; Mazandaran province; Semnan province. Farhad Alipour PhD, Department of Zoology, 1. Introduction University of Pune, Pune, In recent years, the focus of nature conservation efforts has become more inclusive, Maharashtra 411007, India. broadening from an approach emphasizing flagship species like cranes, sea turtles or tiger to embrace the entire diversity of life. Thus, biological diversity is now increasingly recognized as a vital parameter to assess global and local environmental changes and sustainability of developmental activities. It is important to distinguish species richness when assemblages differ strongly in total abundance [1]. Most studies of species diversity are standardized on the basis of area or sampling effort, and therefore describe species density [2]. The most commonly – used index of biodiversity is the number of species, i. e., and species diversity. In addition, the diversity indices that take into account the distribution of individuals among species have been standardized [3]. However, the validity of species richness models as tools for predicting future species assemblages may be limited, because the importance of climatic factors in [4, 5] determining species richness varies with spatial scale (grain and extent) , at large spatial scales most available evidence suggests that climate gradients have the strongest correlations Correspondence: with species richness, whereas at finer spatial scales the patterns are less clear-cut [5]. During Raheleh Mehrabi recent years, an increasing number of studies have discussed the relative importance of climate a) Lecturer, Department of [6] Biology, Faculty of Basic and land cover in determining individual species distributions . Butterflies belong to the Sciences, University of order Lepidoptera exhibit an extensive dispersion and distribution due to their evolutionary Damghan, Damghan, Semnan capability to adapt themselves morphologically and physiologically to different natural province, Iran. conditions. In addition documenting the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of the b) PhD, Department of Zoology, butterflies can help us to identify their general ecological properties in a given area. University of Pune, Pune, Maharashtra 411007, India Biodiversity shows many patterns in space and time due to the differences in climate conditions, interactions between species, geography, local history, and many other factors. ~ 123 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies The patterns of biodiversity in space are composed of area, East, Mount Damavand, is located in the range. The Alborz latitude and altitude, etc., while those in time consist of season, mountain range forms a barrier between the south Caspian and life history, and others. Documenting the spatial and temporal the Qazvin-Tehran plateau. distribution patterns of the butterflies can help us to identify their general ecological properties in a given area. In this 2.5 Dasht-e Kavir study, we investigated the patterns of butterflies species and Dasht-e Kavir, also known as Kavir-e Namak or Great Salt their biodiversity in spatial and temporal dimensions in two Desert is a large desert lying in the middle of the Iranian provinces at the north of Iran, Semnan and Mazandaran, which plateau. It is about 800 kilometers (497 mi) long and 320 are enclosed among Caspian Sea, Alborz mountain range and kilometers (198 mi) wide with a total surface area of about Dashte Kavir. Mazandaran province enjoys a moderate, 77,600 square kilometers, making it the world's 23rd largest subtropical climate with an average temperature of 25 °C in desert. summer and about 8 °C in winter. Although snow may fall heavily in the mountains in winter, it rarely falls at sea level. 2.6 Semnan Province In Semnan province summers tend to be very hot and dry with Semnan is located in the north of the country. The province of average daytime temperatures hovering around 37 °C. Semnan covers an area of 96,816 square kilometers and Meanwhile, the winters are cold and gusty, and occasionally stretches along the Alborz mountain range and margins to wet. Semnan does witness snowfall, and the median amount of Dasht-e Kavir desert in its southern parts.15 localities in this precipitation hovers around 232 millimeters. The average province were surveyed for their butterfly fauna. number of icy and below freezing days per year in Semnan is roughly 48 days according to Iranian Meteorology reports. By 2.7 Mazandaran Province analyzing standardized butterfly data collected at distinct sites Mazandaran province is located on the southern coast of the at 20 different stations in 2009, we now examine whether Caspian Sea in the north of Iran with 23,842 km2 area [7]. current species assemblages can be modeled using climatic Mazandaran province is geographically divided into two parts: variables. the coastal plains, and the mountainous areas. Five localities in this province were surveyed regarding their butterflies fauna. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1 Study system 2.8 Identifying the specimens A methodology which involved sampling in 4-5 times around Taxonomic identification was done by using keys available in every sampling site. All the butterflies on the round as well as the book “Butterflies of Iran” by Nazari, 2003, with the help of 5 m on either side were recorded with time, number of one of the biggest Iranian lepidopterists, Mr. Alireza Naderi individuals seen. Other parameters such as weather condition, (Natural history museum of Iran, Tehran, Iran). host plants and geographic characteristics within a site were recorded. In the survey, butterflies were counted during 2.9 Biodiversity index suitable conditions for butterfly activity (sunshine and no more In the present study, α- biodiversity, i. e., species diversity, than light wind, between 10:00 h and 16:00 h Iranian Spring richness and evenness, were adopted, in order to study the and Summer Time). biodiversity of butterflies in spatial and temporal dimensions in the study area. All these indices are prescribed for 2.2 Description of collection sites and localities measuring spatial and temporal dimensions. In addition β- The fieldwork was conducted at twenty localities in Semnan Diversity of butterflies, i. e., Ubiquity and Similarity was (35.5769°N 53.3953°E) and Mazandaran (36.5656°N investigated by using “Bio Diversity Pro” software; 53.0588°E) provinces; an area enclosed among Caspian Sea, Individuals of a given species may occur on several of Alborz Mountain Range and Dashte Kavir, at the North of transects sampled of which the index ubiquity shows this Iran, from May 2009 till September 2009, almost 150 amount with numbers between 0 and 1. The more the value of days.Every locality was visited once per month during this ubiquity is near to 0, then more restricted is distribution in the period. set of species found on a given transect; and the more this value is near to 1, then more widespread is the distribution of 2.3 Caspian Sea the set of species found on a given transect. The Caspian Sea is the largest inland body of water in the world and accounts for 40 to 44 percent of the total lacustrine 3. Results waters of the world. The drastic changes in climate alongside 3.1 Species Composition the Caspian have led to a great deal of biodiversity in the A total of 6222 individual butterflies were collected during the region.