Borboletas frugívoras como indicação de qualidade de habitat em fragmento urbano de cerrado

Abstract

Environmental monitoring programs used to assess habitat quality often use insects, especially frugivorous butterflies, as easily accessible biological indicators. These have wide availability of information, easy to carry out study methodology, and low cost. In addition, they respond easily to environmental changes, making it an efficient tool in environmental diagnosis and in the measures of mitigating actions responsible for ensuring the maintenance of ecosystem services that ensure human survival. In this way, our objective was to inventory the frugivorous butterflies at two different points - edge and center - of an urban fragment belonging to the Federal University of Rondonópolis, in the state of Mato Grosso, using them as an environmental indicator. As a hypothesis, it was believed to detect the presence of the same in the fragment, since it is under constant environmental disturbances, due to anthropic actions such as livestock, monoculture, pollution caused by accumulations of waste. Sampling was carried out between February and May 2019 using 10 Van Someren-Rydon traps, six of which were distributed at the edges and four in the center (interior) of the fragment. Traps were maintained once a week, as well as the collection of collected material. In this way, it was possible to capture individuals from the following butterfly subfamilies of the Nymphanelidae family, respectively: Biblidinae (71), Satyrinae (31) and Charaxinae (03), totaling 105 individuals. Through the MNDS tests, a richness value of 0.54 and an abundance of 0.47 were obtained, demonstrating that the composition of the species existing at the different points (center and border) of the fragment is similar. Taking into account the predominance of certain taxa such as: Hamadryas feronia, Hamadryas februa and Paryphthimades phronius, which show that the fragment is in regeneration, since they are typical species of environments in regeneration due to the generalist habit, which does not require a complex and well-structured environment for development. Therefore, the present work collaborates and demonstrates the efficiency of the use of frugivorous butterflies as indicators of habitat quality, in order to contribute to adoption and implantation in conservation units. Thus, guaranteeing the protection of landscapes, habitat, and biodiversity, in addition to contributing to the sustenance of local communities, promoting ecotourism activities and environmental education, and participating in the regulation of the local climate.