Elevational distribution of montane Afrotropical butterflies is influenced by seasonality and habitat structure.

ABSTRACT: Determinants of elevational distribution of butterfly species richness and abundance in the tropics are poorly understood. Here we assess the combined effects, both additive and interactive, of seasonality and habitat structure on the elevational distribution of butterflies in the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania. We sampled butterflies along a 1100 m elevational gradient that extended from 1540 to 2639 m using a time-constrained fixed-area method during the short to long rains and long to short rains transitions, and in habitat structure classified as closed or open. We used semi-parametric generalized linear mixed models to assess the relation between butterfly species richness or abundance, and seasonality, habitat structure, family and elevation. For all species combined, species richness d

SUBMITTER: Mtui DT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9255748 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature