Comparing nymphalid butterfly diversity in a banana plantation with other ecosystems in Colón, Honduras

Abstract

Butterflies are widely recognized as bioindicators due to their sensitivity to environmental changes. This study evaluated the diversity of Nymphalid butterflies in a banana plantation with other ecosystems in Colón, Honduras. A survey of butterflies was conducted within the plantation and other areas in Colón, including a natural forest and an urban area. The study compared butterfly diversity across these four ecosystems and proposed butterfly species that can serve as bioindicators of environmental health. Sampling was conducted using baited cylindrical traps. The Shannon index was used to provide a measure of biodiversity within each ecosystem, while Chao’s estimator was used to estimate true species richness. The results revealed clear differences in species richness and community structure among ecosystems. The suburban area with orchards exhibited the highest species richness (17 species observed, 41 estimated) representing 60% of the total diversity found in the study, followed by the humid forest (16 species observed, 22 estimated; 57%), the urban area (10 species observed, 14 estimated; 35%), and finally the banana plantation (7 species observed, 15 estimated), which accounted for just 25% of the total diversity. This ecosystem showed the greatest overall dominance, another indicator of biodiversity loss. Species in the gender Archaeoprepona, Manataria, Morpho and Taygetis were proposed as indicators of healthier ecosystems, being much more abundant in the natural forest ecosystem. In contrast, one species (Hermeuptychia hermybius), found abundantly in the banana plantation and town, was proposed as an indicator of degraded environments. This study provided insights into the effects of agricultural practices on biodiversity and highlighted the potential value of butterflies as indicators of ecological health in agricultural ecosystems.