Ecological indicators butterflies of an urban forest and a coastal area in Habana, Cuba

Abstract

It was determined, using the IndVal index, the possible presence of butterfly indicator species in an urban wood and a coastal area in Habana, Cuba. The goal of the study was to seek if these ecological remains in urban matrix, very different in fisonomy and vegetation types, migth exhibit no-random and persistent species composition. Individuals counting was developed during three consecutive years with monthly frecuency by two observers along 1200m. There were observed 54 butterfly species in the wood and 55 species in the coastal area for a total of 64 species. Both habitats shared 70.3% of species composition. Mostly of the species in each habitat were observed each year of sampling and the basic structure of the assemblages developed and stable dynamic. There were determined in the wood 15 indicators species, ten of them were characteristic and five of them detectors. In the coastal habitat were determined 10 indicator species, five characteristic and five detectors. The species with the higthest IndVal values in the wood were Anthanassa frisia (92.5%) and Anartia jatrophae (88.8%) and in the coastal habitat were Pyrisitia nise (79.3%) and Nathalis iole (67.7%). The observed indicator species in both of the habitats are characterized by wide geographical and ecological distribution, but exhibit preferences between habitats.