« Original Research Journal website : www.jeb.co.in E-mail : [email protected] Journal of Environmental Biology TM p-ISSN: 0254-8704 e-ISSN: 2394-0379 JEB CODEN: JEBIDP DOI : http://doi.org/10.22438/jeb/42/4(SI)/MRN-1535b Plagiarism Detector Grammarly Butterfly diversity in relation to host and nectar food plants in TNAU Botanical Garden, Coimbatore G. Vinithashri1 and J.S. Kennedy2* 1Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, India 2Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, India *Corresponding Author Email : [email protected] Received: 24.12.2020 Revised: 24.02.2021 Accepted: 23.03.2021 Abstract Aim: The present study was undertaken to assess the food resources and butterfly diversity in Botanical Garden, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. Methodology: The survey was conducted in targeted locality from September 2015 – October 2019 and butterflies sightings were recorded using a digital camera (Nikon D7200 with kit lens 18-105 mm, Tamron 200- 300 apo dg macro lens). Results: Total 95 species of butterflies were recorded in the garden. Among all families, the highest count was observed in Nymphalidae family followed by Lycaenidae (29 species), Pieridae (15 species), Hesperiidae (10 species) and Papilionidae (11 species). The relative diversity of Nymphalidae (31.57 %) and Lycaenidae (30.52 %) were higher. For Pieridae, RD value accounted for 15.78 % and 11.57 % for Papilionidae. RD value was least for Hesperiidae family (10.52 %). Out of 95 butterflies, the host plants of 88 butterflies were present in the garden itself. Fifteen nectar plants belonging to eleven families were most preferred nectar sources. Interpretation: The present study gives information Onlineof butterfly and its food plant diversity inCopy the garden. The obtained information will help in planting additional host and nectar plant resources to attract rare species. It also sheds light on the importance of survival of prominent nectar plants throughout the year for maintaining the butterfly abundance in garden. Key words: Butterfly, Conservation, Diversity, Host plants How to cite : Vinithashri, G. and J.S. Kennedy: Butterfly diversity in relation to host and nectar food plants in TNAU Botanical Garden, Coimbatore. J. Environ. Biol., 42, 1141-1151 (2021).. © Triveni Enterprises, Lucknow (India) Journal of Environmental Biology July 2021 Vol. 42 1141-1151 1142 G. Vinithashri and J.S. Kennedy: Butterfly diversity in TNAU Botanical Garden, Coimbatore Introduction between 15:00 and 17:00 hrs. During the survey, butterflies were classified into five categories based on their abundance. Butterflies are scaly winged colourful insects belonging The sighting of butterflies found 80-100% time were to the Order Lepidoptera and suborder Rhopalocera. Butterflies categorized as very common, 60-80% as common, 40-60% as play a prominent role in pollination (Kunte 2000, Tiple et al., uncommon, 10 – 40% as rare and below 10% as very rare. 2006, Atmowidi et al., 2007, Mukherjee et al., 2015) and also Images were captured with Nikon D 7200 camera fitted with 18- serve as both prey and predator in the food chain (Hammond 105 mm lens and none of the live specimens were collected. and Miller 1998, Rusman et al., 2016). The birds plan their Field guides and books were used for the identification of entire breeding season based on the abundance of caterpillars. butterflies (Bhakare et al., 2018; Evans,1927, Gunathilagaraj et Learning about biodiversity provides insight into the al., 2015; Kehimkar,2008; Wynter blyth,1957). mechanism and also explains the valuable ecosystem services rendered by the biological elements to the human kind. Survey Early stage of butterflies including egg, larval and pupae and monitoring of species diversity in a particular ecosystem were recorded. Identification of host plants and nectar plants help in understanding the valuable role played by the species. were done based on the information in the butterfly field guides Considering this aspect with reference to butterflies, they serve (Bhakare et al., 2018; Kehimkar, 2008). The study area was as indicators of a healthy ecosystem (Hill 1999; Kocher and intensively explored for the past five years (2015-2019) to assess Williams 2000; Koh and Sodhi 2004; Thomas 2005; Koh 2007). the diversity, nectar food sources and conservation priorities of They provide a deeper insight of spatio-temporal patterns of butterflies. Relative diversity was put forth as percentage of diversity both ecologically and taxonomically in urban occurrence. It was calculated the following formula: frameworks (Bonebrake et al., 2010; Samanta et al., 2017). No. of species observed in each family Percentage Occurrence = * 100 These scaly winged Lepidopterans have intimate Total number of species observed relationship with plants, and their life cycles are exceptionally The butterfly diversity was assessed using Shannon interlinked. (Feltwell, 1986). Ehrlich and Raven (1964) explained diversity index and Simpson’s Index of diversity: that butterflies are herbivores coevolved with plants and they developed a model for co-evolution of plants and butterflies. The Shannon diversity index H'= − ∑ pi ln pi food requirements of adult butterflies and caterpillars differ; adults rely on nectar sources like flowers and ripe fruits whereas the Where, pi denotes proportion of individuals in species caterpillars require specific host plants for meeting out their and is estimated using pi=ni/N: ni is the number of individuals in foliage needs (Nimbalkar et al., 2011). Habitat fragmentation and species and N is the total number of individuals in the community. decline in food resources including host and nectar plants are Ʃn(n-1) known to cause severe impact on butterfly populations (Clark et Simpson’s Index of diversity D= 1 ( N (N -1) ) al., 2007; Di Mauro et al., 2007). Considering the ecosystem services rendered by the butterflies and to promote the where, n is the total number of organisms of a particular conservation, the present study was taken to assess butterfly species; N is the total number of organisms of all species. diversity by preparing a checklist of butterflies in the Botanical Garden of TNAU and identify the host and nectar resources. Host plants present in the garden were recorded and are presented in Table. 1. Fifteen nectar plants belonging to Materials and Methods family Acanthaceae, Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Malvaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Lamiaceae, Rubiaceae and Verbanaceae The botanical garden is located in the premises of TNAU were recorded. campus, around 3.5 km from Coimbatore city, Tamil Nadu. The garden lies between 11.0418ºN and 76.93ºE at an elevation of Results and Discussion about 431 m. The botanical garden occupies an area of about 300 acres and it hosts a wide variety of flower crops, ornamental trees Total 95 species of butterflies were recorded in the and succulents. Flower crops were raised periodically and their garden. The details of recorded butterflies are furnished in Table presence influenced the diversity of butterflies. Butterflies belonging 1. Family composition of butterflies are presented in Fig. 1. The to five families namely- Papilionidae, Nymphalidae,Online Hesperiidae, species countCopy of Nymphalidae was highest (30 species), followed Pieridae and Lycaenidae were observed. Regular weekly visits by Lycaenidae (29 species), Pieridae (15 species), Hesperiidae were made for observing butterfly activity throughout the year (10 species) and Papilionidae (11 species). The relative diversity following the method of Pollard (1991). value was highest for family Nymphalidae (31.57%), followed by Lycaenidae (30.52%). For Pieridae, relative diversity value The study area was intensively explored for past five accounted for 15.78% and 11.57% for Papilionidae. It was least years (2015-2019) to assess the diversity, nectar food sources for Hesperiidae family (10.52%). Considering, Sub-family wise and conservation priorities of butterflies. Observations were distribution (Fig. 2), among 17 subfamilies, the species count of done between 08.30 am. and 12.00 pm. hrs (morning) and Polyommatinae (18), Lycaenidae was highest followed by ¨ Journal of Environmental Biology, July 2021¨ G. Vinithashri and J.S. Kennedy: Butterfly diversity in TNAU Botanical Garden, Coimbatore 1143 Pierinae (12) of Pieridae and Papilioninae (11) of Papilionidae. part IV of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Lampides boeticus, The lowest species count of one was observed in the Charaxinae Charaxes solon, Euthalia aconthea, Hypolimnas missipus, of Nymphalidae, two subfamilies of Lycaenidae-Miletinae and Cepora nerissa are placed in Schedule II part II of Indian Wildlife Curetinae and Coeliadinae of Hesperiidae. Diversity indices Protection act, 1972. Euploea core and Appias libythea are values were 4.14 based on Shannon diversity index and 0.98 placed under Schedule IV. based on Simpson’s Diversity index. The Botanical Garden hosts wide variety of nectar plants These values obtained from dominance and Information like Aster sp., Bougainvillea glabra, Celosia argentea, Cosmos Statistic Indices showed the abundance, rich butterfly diversity sulphureus, Clerodendrum sp., Eupatorium odoratum, and evenness of species existing in the garden. Photographs of Gomphrena globosa, Ixora coccinea, Justicia adhatoda, Lantana butterflies are presented in Fig. 1-5 representing five families. camara, Morinda citrifolia, Solidago canadensis,