1. Habitat preferences and diversity of butterflies associated with small, fragmented urban vegetation patches
- Author
-
Pietrzak, Sylwia
- Subjects
- butterflies, biodiveristy, habitat fragmentation, urbanization, ruderal vegatation
- Abstract
Presented thesis aims to analyze species richness, abundance, functional diversity, phenological changes and flower preferences of butterfly communities associated with five urban wastelands located in Łódź, a large postindustrial city. Quantitative material was collected during two seasons. 214 Pollard walks were conducted between April and September of 2019 and 2020. Analysis of flower preferences was conducted in 2021 and 2022. Investigated westlands fauna was homogenous, although diverse (46 species), due to co-occurence of butterflies representing different ecological requirements. Composition of butterfly communities at small scale restricted urban green spaces reflected the regional species pool of Central Europe. Observed patterns resulted from high microhabitat diversity and availability of plants for highly plant dependent insects like butterflies. Majority of butterflies recorded in Łódź are generalists, although taxa like wetland species Lycaena dispar and Polyommatus coridon - facultative myrmecophile associated with calcareous grassland were also observed in the city. Fauna was numerically dominated by moderately good dispersers characterized by high fertility, cryptic solitary caterpillars foraging on ground level. Dominance of those butterflies may result from cultivation practice and other types of disturbance occuring in fragmented urban habitat patches. Majority of species were flower generalists utilizing mostly species representing Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Lamiaceae. Flower visits of 39 butterflies on 81 species of plants, representing 19 families were recorded. In general species recorded in the city were visiting shallow or medium depth pink, yellow and white flowers. Obtained results provide new insights into knowledge about urban pollinators and can be used in urban management planning.
- Published
- 2023