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Rhopalocera Çeşitliliği Ranga Rezerv Ormanı, Lakhimpur, Assam: Mevsimsel Bir Bakış

Year 2025, Volume: 18 Issue: 2, 157 - 172

Monısh Kumar Thapa , Sourav Dutta , Hirak Jyoti Das , Tilak Kumar Pradhan , Debajit Mahanta , Sujal Tossa , Ritu Kalita , Kamal Sharma , Taslima Sheikh

https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2025.1573885

Abstract

Abstract
A detailed study on butterfly diversity was conducted in the Ranga Reserve Forest, Assam, India, between March 2021 and June 2022. Over the course of the research, 225 species of butterflies, belonging to 131 genera and six different families, were recorded. The family Nymphalidae was the most abundant, with 92 species identified. To assess the influence of seasonal changes on butterfly populations, the study period was categorized into four distinct seasons: summer, monsoon, post-monsoon, and winter. Butterfly diversity showed notable seasonal fluctuations, with the highest number of species observed during the monsoon season and the lowest during winter. A sharp contrast in species count was particularly evident during the monsoon, with Nymphalidae contributing 88 species, while Riodinidae accounted for only 2 species. The conservation assessment revealed that two species are listed as Critically Endangered (CR), two as Endangered (EN), one as Vulnerable (VU), and six as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. The conservation status of 200 species remains unassessed. Additionally, 42 species are protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (Amendment, 2022). The study emphasizes that the forest's rich diversity of butterflies can be attributed to the abundance of host and nectar plants throughout the year, making it a vital habitat for butterfly breeding.

Keywords: Conservation, diversity, Lakhimpur, Rhopalocera, seasonal diversity

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Rhopalocera Çeşitliliği Ranga Rezerv Ormanı, Lakhimpur, Assam: Mevsimsel Bir Bakış

Özet
Mart 2021 ile Haziran 2022 arasında Assam, Hindistan’daki Ranga Koruma Ormanı’nda kelebek çeşitliliği üzerine kapsamlı bir çalışma yapılmıştır. Araştırma boyunca, 131 cinse ve altı farklı familyaya ait 225 kelebek türü kaydedilmiştir. Nymphalidae familyası, 92 tür ile en baskın grup olarak öne çıkmıştır. Mevsimsel değişikliklerin kelebek popülasyonları üzerindeki etkisini değerlendirmek amacıyla çalışma dönemi yaz, muson, muson sonrası ve kış olmak üzere dört mevsime ayrılmıştır. Kelebek çeşitliliğinde belirgin mevsimsel dalgalanmalar gözlemlenmiş olup, en yüksek tür sayısı muson döneminde, en düşük ise kış mevsiminde kaydedilmiştir. Özellikle muson döneminde, Nymphalidae familyasına ait 88 türe karşın Riodinidae familyasından yalnızca 2 türün varlığı dikkate değer bir fark yaratmıştır. Koruma değerlendirmesi, iki türün Kritik Tehlike Altında (CR), iki türün Tehlike Altında (EN), bir türün Hassas (VU) ve altı türün En Az Endişe Verici (LC) olarak IUCN Kırmızı Listesi’nde yer aldığını ortaya koymuştur. Kalan 200 türün koruma durumu henüz değerlendirilmemiştir. Ayrıca, 42 tür 1972 tarihli Hindistan Yaban Hayatı Koruma Yasası (2022 değişikliği) kapsamında koruma altındadır. Çalışma, ormanın zengin kelebek çeşitliliğinin yıl boyunca bol miktarda bulunan konakçı ve nektar bitkilerine bağlı olduğunu, bu durumun ormanın kelebekler için önemli bir üreme alanı olmasını sağladığını vurgulamaktadır.

Anahtar kelimeler: Koruma, çeşitlilik, Lakhimpur, Rhopalocera, mevsimsel çeşitlilik

Keywords

Koruma çeşitlilik Lakhimpur Rhopalocera mevsimsel çeşitlilik

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma etik araştırma uygulamaları standartlarına uygun olarak yürütülmüştür. Saha çalışmasının Lakhimpur, Assam, Hindistan'da yürütülmesi için gerekli tüm izinler ve onaylar ilgili makamlardan usulüne uygun olarak alınmıştır. Çalışma boyunca kelebek popülasyonlarına ve doğal yaşam alanlarına verilen rahatsızlığı en aza indirmek için çaba gösterilmiştir. Hiçbir canlı örnek toplanmamış veya doğal yaşam alanlarından çıkarılmamıştır. Veriler görsel gözlem ve fotoğraflama yoluyla kaydedilmiş, böylece ekosistemin bütünlüğünün bozulmaması sağlanmıştır. Bu makalede sunulan bulguların Lakhimpur, Assam'daki kelebek çeşitliliğinin anlaşılmasına ve korunmasına katkıda bulunması amaçlanmaktadır. Bu bulgular, biyolojik çeşitliliğin korunması ve farkındalığın artırılması amacıyla yalnızca araştırma ve eğitim amaçlı kullanılacaktır. Yazarlar herhangi bir çıkar çatışması beyan etmemiş ve bu araştırma için özel bir fon almamıştır.

References

  • [1] Thapa, M. K., Dutta, S., Das, H. J., Pradhan, T. K., Mahanta, D., Tossa, S., Kalita, R. & Sharma, K. (2024). Avifaunal diversity and status in and around Ranga Reserve Forest, Lakhimpur, Assam, India. Munis Entomology & Zoology, 19(2), 543-555.
  • [2] Joshi, R. K. & Dhyani, S. (2014). Butterflies diversity, distribution and threats in Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve Assam North-East India: A Review. World Journal of Zoology, 9(4), 250-259. https://doi:10.5829/idosi.wjz.2014.9.4.85225
  • [3] Mukherjee, A., Kumar, A., Mahato, S. & Samanta, S. (2023). An updated checklist of the butterfly fauna of Ajodhya Hills, Purulia, West Bengal, India along with new distribution records. Journal of Animal Diversity, 5(1), 65-79. https://doi:10.6186/JAD.5.1.65
  • [4] Bora, A. & Meitei, L. R. (2014). Diversity of butterflies (Order: Lepidoptera) in Assam University Campus and its Vicinity, Cachar District, Assam, India. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Science (JBES), 5(3), 328–339.
  • [5] Kunte, K. (1997). Seasonal patterns in butterfly abundance and species diversity in four tropical habitats in Northern Western Ghats. Journal of Bioscience, 22, 593–603.
  • [6] Thapa, M. K., Saikia, M. K. & Saikia, P. K. (2023). Larval Hostplants’ Specificity of Butterflies in Garbhanga Reserve Forest (Proposed Wildlife Sanctuary) and Rani Reserve Forest, Kamrup, Assam, India. Asian Journal of Conservation Biology, 12(1), 134-142.
  • [7] Saikia, J. & Saikia, S. (2020). Forest Cover Changes Detection in Ranga, Kakoi, and Dulung Reserve Forest in the Lakhimpur District of Assam, India. Journal of Social Science, 48(4), 1665–1672.
  • [8] Borah, R. K. & Bhuyan, N. (2016). A comprehensive study of human-elephant conflict in the bordering areas of the three reserve forests of Lakimpur district, Assam. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science Society and Culture (IJIRSSC), 2(1), 2395–4345.
  • [9] Nath, T. & Pradhan, T. (2012). Sighting of King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836) in Lakhimpur district of Assam, India with Special reference to Conservation. NeBIO, 3 (3), 131–132.
  • [10] Pollard, E. (1977). A method for assessing changes in abundance of butterflies. Biological Conservation, 12(2), 115–134. https://doi:10.1016/0006-3207(77)90065-9
  • [11] Lambert, M. R. K. (1984). Amphibians and reptiles, In: Cloudsley-Thompson, J. L. (Ed), Sahara Desert Key environments. Pergamon Press, London, UK.
  • [12] Heyer, W. R., Donnelly, M. A., McDiarmid, R. W., Hayek, L. C. & Foster, M. S. (1994). Measuring and monitoring biologial diversity: standard methods for amphibians. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. [13] Kehimkar, I. (2016). BNHS – Field Guides Butterflies of India. Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India. [14] Evans, W. H. (1932). The Identification of Indian butterflies-. Second Edition. Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India.
  • [15] Talbot, G. (1947). The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma: Butterflies, Vol. II. Taylor and Francis, London, UK.
  • [16] Das, G. N., Fric, Z. F., Panthee, S., Irungbam, J. S., & Konvicka, M. (2023). Geography of Indian butterflies: Patterns revealed by checklists of federal states. Insects, 14(6), 549. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14060549
  • [17] Eswaran, R. & Pramod, P. (2005). Structure of butterfly community of Anaikatty hills, Western Ghats. Zoo’s print Journal, 20, 1939-1942.
  • [18] Krishnakumar, N., Kumaraguru, A., Thiyagesan, K. & Asokan, S. (2008). Diversity of papilionid butterflies in the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, Southern India. Tiger Paper, 35, 1-8.
  • [19] Riyaz, M. (2022). Butterfly fauna (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) in and around Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, Shopian Kashmir, J&K UT, India. Biyolojik Çeşitlilik Ve Koruma, 15(3), 273-279. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2022.1207812.
  • [20] Sharma, G. (2018). Studies on the Mammalian Diversity of Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India with their conservation status. Journal on New Biological Reports, 7(1), 15–19.
  • [21] Ghosh, S. & Saha, S. (2016). Seasonal diversity of butterflies with reference to habitat heterogeneity, larval host plants and Nectar plants at Taki, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India. World Scientific News, 50, 197-238.

Rhopalocera Diversity in Ranga Reserve Forest, Lakhimpur, Assam: A Seasonal Perspective

Year 2025, Volume: 18 Issue: 2, 157 - 172

Monısh Kumar Thapa , Sourav Dutta , Hirak Jyoti Das , Tilak Kumar Pradhan , Debajit Mahanta , Sujal Tossa , Ritu Kalita , Kamal Sharma , Taslima Sheikh

https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2025.1573885

Abstract

Abstract
A detailed study on butterfly diversity was conducted in the Ranga Reserve Forest, Assam, India, between March 2021 and June 2022. Over the course of the research, 225 species of butterflies, belonging to 131 genera and six different families, were recorded. The family Nymphalidae was the most abundant, with 92 species identified. To assess the influence of seasonal changes on butterfly populations, the study period was categorized into four distinct seasons: summer, monsoon, post-monsoon, and winter. Butterfly diversity showed notable seasonal fluctuations, with the highest number of species observed during the monsoon season and the lowest during winter. A sharp contrast in species count was particularly evident during the monsoon, with Nymphalidae contributing 88 species, while Riodinidae accounted for only 2 species. The conservation assessment revealed that two species are listed as Critically Endangered (CR), two as Endangered (EN), one as Vulnerable (VU), and six as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. The conservation status of 200 species remains unassessed. Additionally, 42 species are protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (Amendment, 2022). The study emphasizes that the forest's rich diversity of butterflies can be attributed to the abundance of host and nectar plants throughout the year, making it a vital habitat for butterfly breeding.

Keywords: Conservation, diversity, Lakhimpur, Rhopalocera, seasonal diversity

----------  ----------

Rhopalocera Çeşitliliği Ranga Rezerv Ormanı, Lakhimpur, Assam: Mevsimsel Bir Bakış

Özet
Mart 2021 ile Haziran 2022 arasında Assam, Hindistan’daki Ranga Koruma Ormanı’nda kelebek çeşitliliği üzerine kapsamlı bir çalışma yapılmıştır. Araştırma boyunca, 131 cinse ve altı farklı familyaya ait 225 kelebek türü kaydedilmiştir. Nymphalidae familyası, 92 tür ile en baskın grup olarak öne çıkmıştır. Mevsimsel değişikliklerin kelebek popülasyonları üzerindeki etkisini değerlendirmek amacıyla çalışma dönemi yaz, muson, muson sonrası ve kış olmak üzere dört mevsime ayrılmıştır. Kelebek çeşitliliğinde belirgin mevsimsel dalgalanmalar gözlemlenmiş olup, en yüksek tür sayısı muson döneminde, en düşük ise kış mevsiminde kaydedilmiştir. Özellikle muson döneminde, Nymphalidae familyasına ait 88 türe karşın Riodinidae familyasından yalnızca 2 türün varlığı dikkate değer bir fark yaratmıştır. Koruma değerlendirmesi, iki türün Kritik Tehlike Altında (CR), iki türün Tehlike Altında (EN), bir türün Hassas (VU) ve altı türün En Az Endişe Verici (LC) olarak IUCN Kırmızı Listesi’nde yer aldığını ortaya koymuştur. Kalan 200 türün koruma durumu henüz değerlendirilmemiştir. Ayrıca, 42 tür 1972 tarihli Hindistan Yaban Hayatı Koruma Yasası (2022 değişikliği) kapsamında koruma altındadır. Çalışma, ormanın zengin kelebek çeşitliliğinin yıl boyunca bol miktarda bulunan konakçı ve nektar bitkilerine bağlı olduğunu, bu durumun ormanın kelebekler için önemli bir üreme alanı olmasını sağladığını vurgulamaktadır.

Anahtar kelimeler: Koruma, çeşitlilik, Lakhimpur, Rhopalocera, mevsimsel çeşitlilik

Keywords

Conservation diversity Lakhimpur Rhopalocera seasonal diversity

Ethical Statement

This study was conducted in accordance with the standards of ethical research practices. All necessary permits and approvals were duly obtained from the relevant authorities for the conduct of fieldwork within Lakhimpur, Assam, India. Throughout the study, efforts were made to minimize disturbance to butterfly populations and their natural habitats. No live specimens were collected or removed from their natural habitats. Data were recorded through visual observation and photography, thereby ensuring that the integrity of the ecosystem remained undisturbed. The findings presented in this paper are intended to contribute to the understanding and conservation of butterfly diversity in Lakhimpur, Assam. They will be utilized solely for research and educational purposes, with the aim of promoting awareness and protection of biodiversity. The authors declare no conflicts of interest and received no specific funding for this research.

References

  • [1] Thapa, M. K., Dutta, S., Das, H. J., Pradhan, T. K., Mahanta, D., Tossa, S., Kalita, R. & Sharma, K. (2024). Avifaunal diversity and status in and around Ranga Reserve Forest, Lakhimpur, Assam, India. Munis Entomology & Zoology, 19(2), 543-555.
  • [2] Joshi, R. K. & Dhyani, S. (2014). Butterflies diversity, distribution and threats in Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve Assam North-East India: A Review. World Journal of Zoology, 9(4), 250-259. https://doi:10.5829/idosi.wjz.2014.9.4.85225
  • [3] Mukherjee, A., Kumar, A., Mahato, S. & Samanta, S. (2023). An updated checklist of the butterfly fauna of Ajodhya Hills, Purulia, West Bengal, India along with new distribution records. Journal of Animal Diversity, 5(1), 65-79. https://doi:10.6186/JAD.5.1.65
  • [4] Bora, A. & Meitei, L. R. (2014). Diversity of butterflies (Order: Lepidoptera) in Assam University Campus and its Vicinity, Cachar District, Assam, India. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Science (JBES), 5(3), 328–339.
  • [5] Kunte, K. (1997). Seasonal patterns in butterfly abundance and species diversity in four tropical habitats in Northern Western Ghats. Journal of Bioscience, 22, 593–603.
  • [6] Thapa, M. K., Saikia, M. K. & Saikia, P. K. (2023). Larval Hostplants’ Specificity of Butterflies in Garbhanga Reserve Forest (Proposed Wildlife Sanctuary) and Rani Reserve Forest, Kamrup, Assam, India. Asian Journal of Conservation Biology, 12(1), 134-142.
  • [7] Saikia, J. & Saikia, S. (2020). Forest Cover Changes Detection in Ranga, Kakoi, and Dulung Reserve Forest in the Lakhimpur District of Assam, India. Journal of Social Science, 48(4), 1665–1672.
  • [8] Borah, R. K. & Bhuyan, N. (2016). A comprehensive study of human-elephant conflict in the bordering areas of the three reserve forests of Lakimpur district, Assam. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science Society and Culture (IJIRSSC), 2(1), 2395–4345.
  • [9] Nath, T. & Pradhan, T. (2012). Sighting of King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836) in Lakhimpur district of Assam, India with Special reference to Conservation. NeBIO, 3 (3), 131–132.
  • [10] Pollard, E. (1977). A method for assessing changes in abundance of butterflies. Biological Conservation, 12(2), 115–134. https://doi:10.1016/0006-3207(77)90065-9
  • [11] Lambert, M. R. K. (1984). Amphibians and reptiles, In: Cloudsley-Thompson, J. L. (Ed), Sahara Desert Key environments. Pergamon Press, London, UK.
  • [12] Heyer, W. R., Donnelly, M. A., McDiarmid, R. W., Hayek, L. C. & Foster, M. S. (1994). Measuring and monitoring biologial diversity: standard methods for amphibians. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. [13] Kehimkar, I. (2016). BNHS – Field Guides Butterflies of India. Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India. [14] Evans, W. H. (1932). The Identification of Indian butterflies-. Second Edition. Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India.
  • [15] Talbot, G. (1947). The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma: Butterflies, Vol. II. Taylor and Francis, London, UK.
  • [16] Das, G. N., Fric, Z. F., Panthee, S., Irungbam, J. S., & Konvicka, M. (2023). Geography of Indian butterflies: Patterns revealed by checklists of federal states. Insects, 14(6), 549. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14060549
  • [17] Eswaran, R. & Pramod, P. (2005). Structure of butterfly community of Anaikatty hills, Western Ghats. Zoo’s print Journal, 20, 1939-1942.
  • [18] Krishnakumar, N., Kumaraguru, A., Thiyagesan, K. & Asokan, S. (2008). Diversity of papilionid butterflies in the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, Southern India. Tiger Paper, 35, 1-8.
  • [19] Riyaz, M. (2022). Butterfly fauna (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) in and around Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, Shopian Kashmir, J&K UT, India. Biyolojik Çeşitlilik Ve Koruma, 15(3), 273-279. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2022.1207812.
  • [20] Sharma, G. (2018). Studies on the Mammalian Diversity of Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India with their conservation status. Journal on New Biological Reports, 7(1), 15–19.
  • [21] Ghosh, S. & Saha, S. (2016). Seasonal diversity of butterflies with reference to habitat heterogeneity, larval host plants and Nectar plants at Taki, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India. World Scientific News, 50, 197-238.
There are 19 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Invertebrate Biology
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Monısh Kumar Thapa 0000-0002-4848-6324

Sourav Dutta 0000-0003-0454-2862

Hirak Jyoti Das 0000-0002-2502-192X

Tilak Kumar Pradhan 0000-0001-8253-2550

Debajit Mahanta 0000-0002-6726-4655

Sujal Tossa 0009-0004-4403-9588

Ritu Kalita 0009-0006-6774-8728

Kamal Sharma 0009-0001-0929-571X

Taslima Sheikh 0000-0002-8112-1562

Early Pub Date May 21, 2025
Publication Date
Submission Date October 30, 2024
Acceptance Date January 10, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 18 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Thapa, M. K., Dutta, S., Das, H. J., Pradhan, T. K., et al. (2025). Rhopalocera Diversity in Ranga Reserve Forest, Lakhimpur, Assam: A Seasonal Perspective. Biological Diversity and Conservation, 18(2), 157-172. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2025.1573885
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