Butterfly species diversity across ecological gradients in mpanga kipengere game reserve and surrounding farmlands, Tanzania
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Date
2024-05
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Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
Butterflies are a species that are particularly sensitive to environmental
changes. Identifying indicator species is crucial for assessing
ecosystem health and ecological monitoring. Maintaining natural
habitats is crucial for preserving insects and other species that indicate
environmental changes. However, the Mpanga/Kipengere Game
Reserve and its surrounding farmlands are facing disturbance due to
human activities, putting many wildlife species, particularly larger
mammals, at risk. To determine the impact of human activities on
butterfly species diversity and abundance in the reserve and its
surrounding areas, we conducted a study from November 2021 to
October 2023.
The study had three main goals. Firstly, to determine how altitude
affects the composition and diversity of butterfly species in the
Mpanga/Kipengere Game Reserve. Secondly, to assess how habitat
impacts the composition and diversity of butterfly species in the same
reserve. Lastly, to evaluate the effect of human activities on butterfly
species composition and diversity in both the Mpanga/Kipengere
Game Reserve and the adjacent Farmlands. The study was conducted
between July 2021 and June 2022 at three different altitudinal levels
low altitude, mid-altitude, and higher altitude ranging from 1000m to
>2000 above sea level. To study the diversity and similarities in species
composition between habitats, butterflies were collected using baited
traps and sweep nets. A 1000m long line transect was used in each
site for sampling. Shannon Index was employed to calculate diversity,
while variations were tested using ANOVA and TUKEY-HSD. Bray-
Curti's dissimilarities were used to identify similarities in species
composition.
The results observed during the study are as follows: A total of 2091
butterfly specimens from 5 different families, which included 124
species were observed. Among these species, there were 2 endemic
ones, namely Charaxes Congdon and Harpendyreus Juno.
The research showed a significant difference in butterfly species
diversity based on altitude, with the Mid-Altitude having higher diversity
(P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in butterfly species diversity between different habitats (Bray-Curtis’s value
< 0.23). Furthermore, the study reveals that Mpanga Kipengere Game
Reserve has higher butterflies’ diversity compared to surrounding
Farmlands. It is also observed that 77% of the species were recorded
in April when there was high temperature and rainfall. These findings
are crucial for ecological monitoring and the evaluation of the MPKGR
ecosystem.
The study concluded that: There is a significance difference in butterfly
species composition and diversity between altitudes. There is no
significance difference in species composition and diversity between
vegetation types. Therefore, the variation is influenced by altitudes
rather than habitat types. Butterfly species composition and diversity is
higher in MPKGR compared to surrounding farmlands. Therefore, the
study find that human activities have direct impact on butterfly species
composition and diversity. Most of butterfly species recorded
immediately after intensive rain season compared to dry season.
Description
MSc. Dissertation
Keywords
Altitudinal gradient, Protected areas, Highlands, Species Composition