Eco. Env. & Cons. 24 (3) : 2018; pp. (1009-1017) Copyright@ EM International ISSN 0971–765X Diversity and Abundance of Butterfly (Lepidoptera rhopalocera) in the City Garden of Banda Aceh, Indonesia Suwarno1*, Irla Hanum1, Yekki Yasmin1, Saida Rasnovi1 and Dahelmi2 1 Biology Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, Indonesia 2 Biology Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Andalas University, Padang, Indonesia (Recieved 25 January, 2018; accepted 10 April, 2018) ABSTRACT Butterflies are generally regarded as one of the best taxonomically studied group of insects. Butterfly populations can show large natural fluctuations. Butterfly distribution and abundance depends on variations in weather for the short-term as well as alterations and disturbances in habitat quality and availability for the long term. In this study the diversity of butterflies in the City Garden Banda Aceh was studied. This study aimed to identify biodiversity and composition of butterfly, abundance of butterflies correlate to photoperiodic and correlation abiotic factors (temperature and humidity) and butterfly abundance in this garden. The exploratory survey method was performed in the study. The sampling was conducted three times a day on 8.00am – 10.00am (morning), 11.00am – 1.00pm (noon) and 3.00pm - 5.00pm (afternoon) for 15 days. Butterflies were collected using the insect net (40 cm in diameter and 200 cm in stalk), followed the track which existing in the garden. The study was conducted in March to May 2017. A total of 523 individual of butterflies belong to 30 species and seven families, namely; Amanthusidae, Danaidae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, and Satyridae. The Nymphalidae has the highest number of species (9 species) followed by Pieridae (6 species) and Papilionidae (5 species). While, Amantusidae has the lowest number of species and individual, 1 species and 19 individual, respectively. In addition, the higher number species and individual of butterfly were in the morning, it was significantly different to two other sampling periods (noon and afternoon). The Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H’) of butterflies in Banda Aceh city garden was 2.805. There were significantly correlation between temperature and number of species and 2 2 individual (F2, 44; p<0.0001 and F2, 44; p<0.0001) but very weak correlation R = 0.332 and R = 0.367, respectively. Key words: Butterflies, Diversity, City garden, Banda Aceh Introduction 2010). Indonesia has about 2200 species, distributed from the lowland to the mountain area and found Butterflies are generally regarded as one of the best both in dry and rainy seasons (Pegie, 2008). Further- taxonomically studied group of insects. Worldwide, more, diversity and abundance of butterflies have almost 20,000 species of butterflies have been de- been done in some location of Aceh, such as at scribed (Kristensen et al., 2007) and roughly 90% Leupung. A number of 70 species of butterflies were percent found in tropical regions (Bonebrake et al., recorded in that area (Suwarno et al., 2013; 2016). *Corresponding author’s email : [email protected] 1010 Eco. Env. & Cons. 24 (3) : 2018 Butterflies enable sustenance of ecosystem ser- Seasonal fluctuations of butterflies covering a par- vices through their role in pollination and serving as ticular area are influenced by environmental factors important food chain components. Being potential viz., temperature, photoperiod, rainfall, humidity pollinating agents of their nectar plants as well as and availability of food resources, types of vegeta- indicators of the health and quality of their host tions viz., herbs, shrubs and trees (Anu et al., 2009, plants and the ecosystem as a whole, exploration of Shanthi et al., 2009 and Tiple et al., 2007). butterfly fauna thus becomes important in identify- In this study the diversity of butterflies in the ing and preserving potential habitats under threat City Park Banda Aceh was studied. This study (Kunte, 1997). Butterflies are an important aspect of aimed to identify biodiversity and composition of ecosystems for they interact with plants as pollina- butterfly, abundance of butterflies correlate to pho- tors and herbivores (Tiple et al., 2006). Butterflies are toperiodic and correlation abiotic factors (tempera- also good indicators of environmental changes as ture and humidity) and butterfly abundance in this they are sensitive to habitat degradation and climate garden. changes (Kunte, 2000). Butterflies are conspicuous components of open habitats and indicators of habi- Materials and Methods tat quality. Some patterns in their distribution and abundance are well known. Study area Butterfly distribution and abundance depend on variations in weather for the short-term as well as The city garden of Banda Aceh which spread over alterations and disturbances in habitat quality and an area of 6,15 acres is located at Tibang village, availability for the long term (Kocher and Williams, Syiah Kuala about 5-6 km northern of Banda Aceh 2000). Butterflies are important umbrella species (05o34’56.2" LU and 95o20’47.5" BT) and an elevation group for ecological evaluations on local, regional of 1 m above the Mean Sea Level (MSL) and. There and interregional scales (Pollard and Yates, 1993; are 147 species of plants and more than 3660 trees Wettstein and Schmid, 1999). These insects are rela- inside this garden, such as grasses, shrubs, riparian, tively sensitive bio–indicators due to their highly mangrove, ornament, flowering and fruits plants. complex life cycles (Van Dyck et al., 2000; Hanski, North side of this city garden remain as fishpond 2001). The distribution of many species is rather re- area with mangrove trees replanted after tsunamis stricted (Van Swaay, 2002; Kudrna, 2002) and some victim (Yayasan Bustanussalatin, 2011). In this gar- butterfly species are hardly found outside protected den also planted the endemics and exotic plants areas. Many species of butterflies are strictly sea- (Hidayat, 2013). At this garden, 26 species of birds sonal, preferring only a particular set of habitats. belong to 16 families were found. Some of them are Butterflies have been studied for their numerous protected birds and migratory birds (Fithri, 2012). aspects, such as biodiversity, abundance, food pref- There were some ecotourism facilities in this area erences, population dynamic, distribution and bio- such as walk trail around the garden, ramp canopy indicators of environmental health, managed and trail, mangrove boardwalk, and water reservoir. degraded ecosystems, also used in monitoring pro- Butterflies Collection grams (Sawchick et al., 2003; Suwarno, 2010; 2012; Suwarno et al., 2010a,b; Suwarno et al., 2012; Nganso Butterflies sampling was carried out in March to et al., 2012). They are well-studied, easily observed, June 2017 using the timed, directed, fixed distance sensitive to changes in vegetation and management transect method in the garden (Pollard, 1977; Caldas practices, and they are tightly intertwined with eco- and Robbins, 2003). Samplings were done every logical systems as both primary consumers (herbi- week under sunny condition and divided into three vores) and as food items (Nganso et al., 2012). period times 8.00am-10.00am (morning), 11.00am- Butterfly populations can show large natural 01.00pm (noon) and 3.00pm-5.00pm (afternoon) a fluctuations. These are mainly due to environmen- day and 100 minutes were spent in each time pe- tal features, especially weather conditions. Long- riod. Transects (in this case were walk trails) were term changes in abundance and distribution have 500 m in length and stretched every week along the been linked to a range of factors including habitat established walk trail. While walking along transect, loss and fragmentation, land use changes, and cli- butterflies seen across 5 m distance from either side mate change (Schulze et al., 2004; Suwarno, 2010). of the mid-line were collected. Butterflies were col- SUWARNO ET AL 1011 lected using an insect net and they were brought to butterfly abundances and the number of species of laboratory for specimen preparation. butterflies between three periods of times. Polyno- mial correlation between the temperature and mois- Species handling and identification ture with the number of species and number of indi- Standard field handling of specimens were done. vidual of butterfly also analysed. All tests were con- Butterflies were captured with the insect net then ducted using SPSS v17.0. squeezed the thorax to disable the specimens. The specimens were placed in glassine envelopes and Results and Discussion stored in plastic box 40x25x12 cm for subsequent laboratory processing comprising identification, Species diversity and abundance drying, spreading, pinning, photographing and la- The City Garden of Banda Aceh is the open area lo- belling (Nganso et al., 2012). Each processed speci- cated in sub urban area, 5-6 km northern of Banda men was labelled with certain code that described Aceh. This garden previously is the wetland area the time, date, and location of collection. The col- which was then in 2010, converted into a garden lected butterflies were identified to the species level and local ecotourism area. Based on variation of using the morphology characters of the specimen plants were replanted in the city garden area, there such as body size, wing venation and colour on each are many suitable hosts and food plants for diverse part of the wing and other specific characters (Fig. butterfly populations including some rare and sen- 1). Identification of specimen was also using a vari- sitive species. The good source of nectar, food plants ety of taxonomic treatises, including Fleming (1975); suitable for egg laying, open sunny space and with- Tsukada (1982a, 1982b, 1985, 1991); Seki et al., out pesticides application has resulted in varied (1991); Corbet and Pendlebury (1992) and Salmah et species diversity of butterflies in the area. In this city al. (2002). park is found 523 butterlies belongs to 30 species, 21 genera and 7 families namely; Amanthusidae, Danaidae, Lycaeindae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae and Satiridae.