Diversity and Status of Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) found in PC Hills, Leyte (Philippines)

Abstract

Variations in habitat quality is a known factor in the distribution patterns and abundance of butterflies. Research on butterfly population also provide evidence on how vegetation type influence butterfly diversity. This study assessed the Rhopalocera diversity of PC Hills to elucidate the diversity trends in varying vegetation types. PC Hills (Philippines) is a relatively undisturbed area of forests and rivers, transect sampling technique was applied in monitoring and documenting the butterflies’ species richness and diversity. Three transects were established based on vegetation type: agroecosystem, dipterocarp forest, and riparian ecosystem. eight sampling sessions resulted to seven hundred forty-six individuals observed, of which twenty-two Rhopalocera genera were identified morphologically. Thirty-five voucher specimen were classified to the species taxonomic level using DNA Barcoding. The highest diversity level was observed in the third transect (H’ = 3.0449), followed by the second transect (H’ = 2.7876) and the lowest being in the first transect (H’ = 2.3593). Of the 36 species of butterflies, only Notocrypta paralysos volux was categorized by IUCN conservation status as Vulnerable. This study indicates that butterflies are likely to inhabit dipterocarp and riparian vegetation types which then influences their species composition and diversity.

Keywords

• diversity
• DNA barcoding
• morphology
• Rhopalocera

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