Spatial and Temporal Distribution Change of the Butterflies in Taiwan

• Main Authors: Yi-Wen Lee, 李依紋
• Other Authors: 李培芬
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2007
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/73516089731779457149

碩士 === 臺灣大學 === 生態學與演化生物學研究所 === 95 === This study investigates the spatial and temporal distribution pattern of the butterflies in Taiwan. I compiled literatures to establish Taiwan Butterfly Distribution Database using a 1×1 km grid system. This distribution pattern was analyzed by the Ecological and Environmental GIS Database. A total of 144, 454 records including 389 butterfly species span between 1840 and 2006. Data scattered among 3, 735 grids, about 10 % of the total. The environmental layers include annual temperate, annual precipitation, NDVI, forest density, elevation, road density, building area, nearest distance to major cities, and nearest distance to roads. The data was separated into three time periods: I= 1840- 1945, II= 1946- 1984, and III= 1985- 2006. Results show forest density and nearest distance to major cities had no obvious relationship trends with butterfly species richness (BFSR). Road density, building area, and nearest distance to roads showed inverse relationship trends with BFSR. BFSR peaked at low-elevation in Period II and III. There is no evidence for a systematic shift in distribution range (expands or contracts) or in average altitude (uphill or downhill) across all species, even though 122 species, 31.8 % of the research species, show significant distribution shifts in average altitude. Besides, results indicated 93 % of butterfly biodiversity hotspots (BFBH) are distributed over low-elevation. BFBH lost in Period III were located in high urbanized areas. However, there is only 0.8 % of BFBH situating in Taiwan Protected Areas. The butterflies’ distribution patterns in Taiwan are affected by host and nectar plants distribution, land use changes, and climate changes. Further studies are necessary.