Ecological Indicator Role of Butterflies in Tam Dao National Park, Vietnam Роль Бабочек Как Экологическ
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Russian Entomol. J. 16(4): 479486 © RUSSIAN ENTOMOLOGICAL JOURNAL, 2007 Ecological indicator role of butterflies in Tam Dao National Park, Vietnam Ðîëü áàáî÷åê êàê ýêîëîãè÷åñêèõ èíäèêàòîðîâ â íàöèîíàëüíîì ïàðêå Òàì Äàî (Âüåòíàì) Vu Van Lien Âó Âàí Ëèåí Vietnam-Russian Tropical Center, Nguyen Van Huyen Street, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam. E-mail:[email protected] KEY WORDS: butterflies, families, genera, species, ecological indicators, forests, habitat. ÊËÞ×ÅÂÛÅ ÑËÎÂÀ: áàáî÷êè, ñåìåéñòâà, ðîäû, âèäû, ýêîëîãè÷åñêè èíäèêàòîðû, ëåñà, ìåñòîîáèòàíèÿ, Âüåòíàì ABSTRACT. Ecological indicator role of butter- òîðà åñòåñòâåííûõ ñîìêíóòûõ ëåñîâ. Èç âñåãî flies was assessed in Tam Dao National Park, Vietnam ìíîãîîáðàçèÿ áàáî÷åê, îòìå÷åííûõ íà òðèäöàòè from May to October over three years from 2002 to òðàíñåêòàõ, òîëüêî òðè ðîäà è òðè âèäà ìîãóò áûòü 2004. The transect method was used to collect data. èñïîëüçîâàíû â êà÷åñòâå èíäèêàòîðîâ äëÿ îöåíêè Thirty transects representing five different habitat types íàðóøåííîñòè åñòåñòâåííîãî ñîìêíóòîãî ëåñà. Ýòî were set up at the altitude of 900950 m a.s.l., from the ðîäû Ragadia, Neope, Stichophthalma è âèäû Ragadia natural closed forest to the agricultural land, with a crisilda, Neope muirheadi è Stichophthalma howqua. length of 100 m for each transect. Indicator values were Òàêèå õàðàêòåðíûå ëåñíûå ñåìåéñòâà êàê Satyridae quantified for each butterfly family, genus, and species. è Amathusiidae ìîãóò áûòü èñïîëüçîâàíû â êà÷åñòâå The results showed no any butterfly family could be ýêîëîãè÷åñêèõ èíäèêàòîðîâ äëÿ ëåñîâ â öåëîì (êàê used as ecological indicator for the natural closed for- íåíàðóøåííûõ, òàê è íàðóøåííûõ), íî íå äëÿ åñòå- est. Among many genera and species of butterflies ñòâåííûõ. Íå ñìîòðÿ íà òî, ÷òî áàáî÷êè ÷óòêî ðåà- recorded along thirty transects, only three butterfly ãèðóþò íà íàðóøåíèÿ ëåñíîãî ñîîáùåñòâà, ëèøü genera and three butterfly species can be used as eco- íåìíîãèå âèäû ìîãóò áûòü èñïîëüçîâàí â êà÷åñòâå logical indicators to assess the impact of disturbance on ýêîëîãè÷åñêèõ èíäèêàòîðîâ äëÿ åãî îöåíêè, îñî- the natural closed forest. Genus indicators are Ragadia, áåííî â åñòåñòâåííîì ñîìêíóòîì ëåñó. Neope, Stichophthalma; species indicators are Ragadia crisilda, Neope muirheadi, and Stichophthalma howqua. Introduction Satyridae and Amathusiidae are characteristic butterfly families for the forest, but they are only can be used as ecological indicators for forest in general (the habitat Ecological disturbance is a frequent and important inside forests, including the natural forest and the dis- process in tropical forest ecosystems, especially in de- turbed forest), not for natural forest. Although butter- veloping countries such as Southeast Asia. Tropical flies are sensitive to forest disturbance, very few butter- forest communities have changed in composition and fly species can be used as ecological indicators to assess abundance over time due to forest succession, weather the impact of disturbance on the natural closed forest. conditions as well as habitat fragmentation and distur- bance [Erhardt, 1985; Lawton et al., 1998; Debinski et ÐÅÇÞÌÅ. Íà îñíîâàíèè òð¸õëåòíèõ ñáîðîâ ñ al., 2000; Summerville & Crist, 2001; Kruess & Ts- ìàÿ ïî îêòÿáðü 20022004 ãã. ïðîâåäåíà îöåíêà charntke, 2002]. Butterfly fauna is usually associated ðîëè áàáî÷åê êàê ýêîëîãè÷åñêèõ èíäèêàòîðîâ â óñ- with its corresponding vegetation types. Although many ëîâèÿõ íàöèîíàëüíîãî ïàðêà Òàì Äàî (Âüåòíàì). butterfly larvae feed on a variety of plants, a small Äëÿ ñáîðà ìàòåðèàëà èñïîëüçîâàëñÿ ìåòîä òðàíñåêò. number of butterfly larvae feed on only a single plant.  ïÿòè òèïàõ ìåñòîîáèòàíèé íà âûñîòå 900950 ì Forest disturbance obviously causes changes in vegeta- áûëî çàëîæåíî 30 òðàíñåêò äëèíîé 100 ì îò åñòå- tion types that consequently affect butterfly fauna. Any ñòâåííîãî ñîìêíóòîãî ëåñà äî àãðîëàíäøàôòîâ. Äëÿ changes in the forest can lead to changes in butterfly êàæäîãî ñåìåéñòâà, ðîäà è âèäà áàáî÷åê áûëè îïðå- communities because they are highly sensitive to chang- äåëåíû êîëè÷åñòâåííûå ïîêàçàòåëè èíäèêàöèè. es in habitat disturbance or habitat quality [Collinge et Óñòàíîâëåíî, ÷òî íè îäíî èç ñåìåéñòâ ÷åøóåêðû- al., 2003; Shahabuddin & Terborgh, 1999; Spitzer et al, ëûõ íå ìîæåò áûòü èñïîëüçîâàíî â êà÷åñòâå èíäèêà- 1997; Vu & Yuan, 2003]. The response of butterfly 480 Vu Van Lien communities to habitat changes is probably one of the Thirty transects representing five different habitat most conspicuous; moreover, the butterflies are ob- types were chosen, with a length of 100 m for each served easily and the species are better known than most transect. Transects are separated from each other by least other groups of insects making them good subjects of 50 m. The vegetation of the five habitat types in the study study. is summarized below, with the identification and nomen- Assessing the environmental impact on plants and clature of vegetation following Pham [19992000]. animals is usually difficult and expensive. One rather Natural closed forest (S1): closed forest with a variety easy and cheap way to monitor and assess environmen- of plant species with diameter from 1050 cm, canopy tal impacts on animals and plants is to use indicator height of 815 m. Main plant species are Castanopsis species. Identifying and developing eco-indicators is fissa, C. hytrix, C. cerebrina Quercus bambusaefolia considerably recent among ecologists and biologists in (Fagaceae); Litsea afglutinosa, L. baviensis, L. lencilim- conservation of biodiversity. Attention has focused on ba, L. verticillata, Machilus grandifolia (Lauraceae); the use of terrestrial invertebrates as bio-indicators Asarum maximum (Aristolochiaceae); Bridelia monoica because of their dominant biomass and diversity and (Euphorbiaceae); Sapium discolor, Musaenda dehiscen, their fundamental importance in ecosystem function Anthocephalus indicus, Wendlandia paniculata (Rubi- [Disney, 1986; Rosenberg et al., 1986; Majer 1989]. aceae); Mallotus cochinchinesis (Euphorbiaceae); Man- Indicators have been used to assess ecosystem respons- glietia hainamensis, Manglonia sp. (Magnoliacea); Schef- es to environmental disturbance that are often associat- fera octophylla (Araliaceae); Camellia pubicosta, C. ed with human land use [Noss, 1990; Mc Kenzie et al., rubiflora, C. caudata (Theaceae); Cylindrokelupha sp. 1995]. Indicators are also used to assess rapidly the (Mimosaceae); Gironniera subacqualis (Ulmaceae) and environmental status under stresses of human activity Acer wilson (Araceae). [McKenzie et al., 1995; Noss, 1990]. Disturbed forest (S2): canopy height of 510 m with Effect of environmental changes to backboned an- shrubs and small to medium trees and bamboo. Main imals usually takes a long time to realize [Struhsaker, species are Castanopsis fissa, C. hytrix, Quercus bambu- 1997] and is difficult to detect compared to inverte- saefolia (Fagaceae); Manglonia sp. (Magnoliaceae); Mu- brates [Murphy & Wilcox, 1986]. Certain groups, saenda dehiscens, Wendlandia paniculata, Anthoceph- such as butterflies, which are known to include many alus indicus (Rubiaceae); Melastoma spp. (Melastomace- species dependent on forest [Collins & Morris, 1985], ae); Pygeum arboretum, Rubus alaefolius (Rosaceae); are better choices than others [Kremen, 1992]. It is Ficus sp., F. vulga (Moraceae); Litsea baviensis, L. lencil- suitable to use butterflies as eco-indicators of forest imba, L. verticillata, Machilus grandifolia, Cariodaph- disturbance because they are sensitive and quickly nopsis tonkinensis, Cinnamomun tonkinensis (Laurace- react to changes of habitat and environment, fly during ae); Camelia sp. (Theaceae); Mallotus cochinchinensis, the day, are rather diverse and in relative abundance, M. barbatus, Sapium discolor, Macaranca denticulata and have short generation times. Among insects, but- (Euphorbiaceae); Musa cocinea (Musaceae); Rubus alae- terflies that are sensitive to habitat change are widely folius (Rosaceae); Acer wilson (Aceraceae); Indosasa cras- recognized as potentially valuable ecological indica- siflora and I. hispida (Bambusoidae). tors [Brown, 1991; Erhardt, 1985; Gilbert, 1984; Kre- Forest edge (S3): vegetation consists of small trees, men, 1992; Kerr et al., 2000; Sparrow et al., 1994; shrub and grass. Main vegetation species are Litsea Sutton & Collins,1991]. lencilimba, L. verticillata, L. baviensis, L. cubeba, Cin- Although butterflies are widely recognized as good namomum iners, Actnophne pilosa (Lauracaeae); Im- eco-indicators, there is limited research work to define perata cylindryca, Centotheca lappaceae, Eagross butterflies which can be used as indicators to monitor unionoides, Thysanolea maxiam (Poaceae); Ageratum and assess the impact of human being on tropical forest conyzoides, Artemisia vulgaris, Xanthium strumarium; systems. This paper presents the result of study to define and other small plant species of Fagaceae, Magnoliace- butterflies as eco-indicators of the tropical forest of ae, Moraceae, Rosaceae, and Rutaceae. Tam Dao National Park, Vietnam in family, genus and Shrub and grass (S4): some shrubs with height of species levels. This is perhaps the first work to define 2050 cm and tall grass with height of 100200 cm. different ecological indicator taxa of butterflies in trop- The main grass species are Euphobia thymifolia, Cen- ical forests of Southeast Asia. totheca sp., C. lappaceae, Eagross unionoides, Imper- ata cylindryca, Saccharum arundidinaceumi (Poace- Research methodology ae); Melastoma normale (Melastomacaea)