ABSTRACTSpecies diversity and distribution of butterflies (Lepidoptera; Rhopalocera)
of the urban forest of Muhammad Sabki, Jambi were studied from January to
February 2012. The urban forest was divided into four different habitat types: the
Park, the Stream side, the Rubber forest, and the Mixed forest. Two transect
routes were established for each habitat type. Observations were made on the
number of individuals of each species of butterflies found within the transects.
Data were analyzed by Shannon-Wiener, Evenness, and Sorenson indices. A total
of 43 species with 3241 individuals of six families (Hesperiidae, Papilionidae,
Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae, and Riodinidae) of butterflies were recorded.
Nymphalidae was the most dominating family with the highest species richness at
the urban forest. The highest number of butterfly species was recorded at the
Rubber forest and the Stream side (37 species each), followed by the Park (33
species) and the Mixed forest (27 species). The most abundant butterflies were
found at the Rubber Forest, and the least were in the Stream side. Two species
(Eurema hecabe and Mycalesis janardana) were observed consistently at all
habitat types, and the former was the most abundant species. The highest species
diversity and evenness indices were found in the Rubber Forest, while the lowest
were in the Stream Side. Species diversity and evennes indices of butterflies of
the urban forest can be categorized as low and low to moderate respectively.
Based on their similarity indices of species (IS), the community of butterfly of the
urban forest consisted of three communities: the Park, the Stream Side-Rubber
Forest, and the Mixed Forest. The highest IS was found in the Stream Side-
Rubber Forest. Nevertheless, high similarity indices (>0.7) of the butterflies
between communities indicating that the communities of the butterfly had almost
similar species composition, and most species were widely distributed across all
habitat types of the urban forest.
