Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Frugivorous butterflies in Venezuelan forest fragments: Abundance, diversity and the effects of isolation

Publication ,  Journal Article
Shahabuddin, G; Terborgh, JW
Published in: Journal of Tropical Ecology
November 1, 1999

Frugivorous butterflies were studied in a set of forested islands (0.1 to 1.15 ha) in a reservoir in eastern Venezuela to investigate the effects of fragmentation and the resulting isolation on their abundance, diversity and species composition. While some islands showed reduced abundance and species diversity in comparison to unfragmented (or control) sites, others did not. Isolation status affected both butterfly abundance and diversity. Islands located close to their colonizing sources (0.1-1 km) tended to support similar densities of butterflies but lower numbers of species in comparison to control sites. Far fragments (1-3 km from their colonizing sources) tended to harbour lower butterfly densities in comparison to control sites but undiminished numbers of species. Species composition varied significantly between control sites and islands and amongst control sites, near islands and far islands. Interspecific differences were observed in species' responses to fragmentation. Charaxines, medium-sized satyrines, morphines and brassolines may be vulnerable to extinction after habitat fragmentation while small-sized satyrines may be relatively resistant. Observations during the dry season indicate that butterfly species may exist as mainland-island metapopulations in Lago Guri, in which small habitat fragments require recolonization every year from source populations in large islands and mainland habitat.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of Tropical Ecology

DOI

ISSN

0266-4674

Publication Date

November 1, 1999

Volume

15

Issue

6

Start / End Page

703 / 722

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 1601 Anthropology
  • 0602 Ecology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Shahabuddin, G., & Terborgh, J. W. (1999). Frugivorous butterflies in Venezuelan forest fragments: Abundance, diversity and the effects of isolation. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 15(6), 703–722. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467499001121
Shahabuddin, G., and J. W. Terborgh. “Frugivorous butterflies in Venezuelan forest fragments: Abundance, diversity and the effects of isolation.” Journal of Tropical Ecology 15, no. 6 (November 1, 1999): 703–22. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467499001121.
Shahabuddin G, Terborgh JW. Frugivorous butterflies in Venezuelan forest fragments: Abundance, diversity and the effects of isolation. Journal of Tropical Ecology. 1999 Nov 1;15(6):703–22.
Shahabuddin, G., and J. W. Terborgh. “Frugivorous butterflies in Venezuelan forest fragments: Abundance, diversity and the effects of isolation.” Journal of Tropical Ecology, vol. 15, no. 6, Nov. 1999, pp. 703–22. Scopus, doi:10.1017/S0266467499001121.
Shahabuddin G, Terborgh JW. Frugivorous butterflies in Venezuelan forest fragments: Abundance, diversity and the effects of isolation. Journal of Tropical Ecology. 1999 Nov 1;15(6):703–722.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of Tropical Ecology

DOI

ISSN

0266-4674

Publication Date

November 1, 1999

Volume

15

Issue

6

Start / End Page

703 / 722

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 1601 Anthropology
  • 0602 Ecology