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ISSN 1809-127X (online edition) © 2011 Check List and Authors Chec List Open Access | Freely available at www.checklist.org.br Journal of species lists and distribution PECIES S Calcutta Wetlands, West Bengal, India OF Butterfly (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) Fauna of East Soumyajit Chowdhury 1* and Rahi Soren 2 ISTS L 1 School of Oceanographic Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata – 700 032, West Bengal, India 2 Ecological Research Unit, Dept. of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata – 700019, West Bengal, India [email protected] * Corresponding author. E-mail: Abstract: East Calcutta Wetlands (ECW), lying east of the city of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), West Bengal in India, demands exploration of its bioresources for better understanding and management of the ecosystem operating therein. demonstrates the usage of city sewage for traditional practices of fisheries and agriculture. As a Ramsar Site, the wetland The diversity study, conducted for two consecutive years (Jan. 2007-Nov. 2009) in all the three seasons (pre-monsoon, Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) being potent pollinators and ecological indicators, are examined in the present study. during their larval and adult stages respectively, the lack of these sources in some parts of ECW indicate degraded habitats monsoon and post-monsoon), revealed seventy-four species. As butterflies depend on preferred host and nectar plants to agricultural lands) are resulting in the loss of wetland biodiversity and hence ecosystem integrity in ECW. with low species richness. Ongoing unplanned anthropogenic activities like habitat modifications (conversion of wetlands Introduction East Calcutta Wetlands (22°25’ – 22°40’ N, 88°20’ – The East Calcutta Wetlands (ECW) is a complex of 88°35’ E) (Figure 1) is part of the mature delta of River natural and man-made wetlands lying east of the city of Ganga. The wetlands here are the “interdistributary” Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), West Bengal in India. The marshes in the delta. Here, the streams – which were wetlands cover 12,500 ha and comprise of intertidal the tributaries, distributaries and re-distributaries of marshes, including salt marshes and salt meadows, with the Ganga – were once active. But with the shifting of the main river, the streams became inactive and some of them settling ponds, and oxidation basins. It is a perfect example even died with consequent loss of headwaters while some ofsignificant wise use waste of a waterwetland treatment ecosystem areas where like sewage usage offarms, city of them were still building land on both sides. Between those raised tracts the land was comparatively depressed, is practiced by the local farmers who have mastered being deprived of the annual deposition of silt. The ECW resource-recoverysewage for traditional activities, practices making of fisheries this the and largest agriculture such is located in such a low-lying region. It was once covered area in the world. The ECW was designated a “Wetland of with salt-water marshes. Those salt-water marshes were International Importance” under the Ramsar Convention between the River Hooghly to the west and the River on August 19, 2002 (Ramsar 2007). Biodiversity Bidyadhari, a tidal channel, to the East. The mouths of enumeration of such wetlands, especially in terms of some of the streams opened into the Bay of Bengal and Rhopalocera) are important for estimating the general tides and salinity of these salt-water lakes. These lakes healthecologically as well sensitive as development species like butterfliesof proper (Lepidoptera:conservation were influencedactually the by spill-reservoirstidal action, which of theaccounted tidal channel for the plans for the entire ecosystem. Few studies have been done Bidyadhari which opened into the Bay of Bengal through the river Matla. At present the ECW encompasses 264 operating bheries (Shallow fresh or brackish waterbodies (1933;on butterfly 1944a; diversity 1944b; in 1946) Kolkata. and Preliminary D. F. Sanders studies (1944). were In for pisciculture), including 46 in Bidhannagar, 37 in recentcarried years, out by Chowdhury L. de Nicéville and Chowdhury (1885), D. (2006a;G. Sevastopulo 2006b) Bhangar, 104 in Sonarpur, and 77 in Tiljala. Of the 12,500 ha, approximately 45.93% comprises water bodies and in Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary in suburban Kolkata. 38.92% is agricultural land. The remaining portion is and Chowdhury (2010) reported 96 species of butterflies occupied by urban and rural settlements (10.42%) and in urban Kolkata (Chowdhury and Chowdhury 2007). sites for garbage disposal (4.73%). Chowdhury33 species wereand documentedDas (2007) reportedfrom Mudiali 64 speciesNature fromPark The vegetation comprises primarily of 55 species the Indian Botanic Garden in Howrah near Kolkata. As including 41 species of herbs, 14 species of climbers, and such an extensive wetland near Kolkata, the present work 35of aquaticspecies macrophytes,of trees/shrubs and (IWMED90 species 2004). of bank Moreover, flora, thereforethere are demandsno previous importance studies foron a butterflybetter understanding diversity in in several parts of ECW area, 24 species of vegetable of the health and integrity of the wetland ecosystem. and crops, 5 species of fruit plants, and 10 species of ornamental plants are extensively cultivated by irrigating Materials and Methods with sewage water (IWMED 2004). The wetland harbours Study Site a wide range of vertebrate fauna, of which fishes and birds Check List | Volume 7 | Issue 6 | 2011 700 Chowdhury and Soren | Butterflies of East Calcutta Wetlands, India (De et al. 1989), 4 species of amphibians (IWMED 2004), 19deserve species a specialof reptiles mention. (IWMED It hosts 2004), 40 about species 135 of species fishes wasPremonsoon carried out (March in both – human-inhabitedMay), Monsoon (June and uninhabited– October), wetlandand Postmonsoon areas in all(November the four – blocksFebruary). of Bidhannagar, The survey mammals (IWMED 2004). Bhangar, Sonarpur, and Tiljala. of birdsThe region (Personal has aCommunication), hot and humid monsoonaland 16 species climate, of with average annual rainfall of about 1,600 mm (mainly in the monsoon months from mid June to mid October). The Pollard Walk Method (Pollard 1977; Pollard and summer temperature ranges between 30.4 - 40.2 °C, while Yates 1993) was followed for recording the butterflies winter temperature varies between13.6-14.2 °C. while walking along fixed paths in the wetland areas. The observation width was limited to about 3 m. Butterflies Data Collection were observed throughout the day (n=24) from 08:00 h The ECW was surveyed from January 2007 to November to 04:00 h, quarterly in three seasons for two consecutive years (2008, 2009). They were identified in the field was categorized into three seasonal durations, viz. the Heppnerusing field (1998). guides by Evans (1932), Wynter-Blyth (1957), 2009 to assess the diversity of butterflies. Yearly survey and Kehimkar (2008). Classification was followed after Figure 1. Map of East Calcutta Wetlands (ECW), Kolkata [Inset showing the location of ECW as a small part in Kolkata, represented by the box on map of India]. Results and Discussion and lycaenids in ECW indicates a varied assemblage of Although ECW attains primary concern for its rich piscine and avian resources, the area shows a rich Occurrence of some rare species like the Black Rajah (floralCharaxes species, solon particularly Fabricius, 1793)among in the the bank wetlands vegetation. under Sonarpur Block, hosting its food plant Derris indica duringassemblage the study.of butterflies. Nymphalidae Seventy-four showed the species maximum of Bennett (1972) have been reported by Chowdhury speciesbutterflies richness, representing comprising six familiesof 24 species have (32%), been recordedfollowed (Lam.) theand Sarkarpotential (2007). of this The wetland presence area of thisto butterflyharbor variedalong 11%),by Lycaenidae and Riodinidae (18 species, (1 species, 24%), 2%).Hesperiidae (12 species, environmentalwith the occurrence conditions of other that butterflies in turn listed can indicatessupport 16%), Pieridae (11 species, 15%), Papilionidae (8 species, is often linked with the larval or adult food source. The well as larval host plants in several patches of the ECW The preference of butterflies for particular habitats further bioresources. Lack of preferred nectar source as rich Checkdiversity List | Volume of 7butterflies, | Issue 6 | 2011 especially the nymphalids indicate degraded site, with low butterfly richness. Several701 Chowdhury and Soren | Butterflies of East Calcutta Wetlands, India anthropogenic activities including intense encroachment Being potential pollinating agents of their nectar plants stress from urban expansion, alterations of wetland as well as indicators of the health and quality of their habitats to agricultural lands, and discharge of untreated host plants and the ecosystem as a whole, exploration of and preserving critical wetland habitats under threat. channels,waste water are effluent presently from acting several as potentialindustries threats to the recentlyin ECW. butterfly fauna thus becomes important in identifying laid sewers emptying into the eastward flowing city outfall in the wetland ecosystem and their mode of assessment on planting of host plants and propagation of conspicuous ofMore the detailedhabitat qualitystudies shouldregarding be thecarried role outof butterfliesfor better patchesRestoration of the of preferredwetlands fornectar butterflies plant. should