Diversity patterns of pronophiline butterflies (Lepidoptera:Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) in an altitudinal gradient at Cerro de Tierra Negra, Eastern Cordillera, Norte de Santander, Colombia

Abstract

Objective: The Andean Region presents a great variety of natural landscapes in which there are mountainous areas with a high richness of butterflies of the Pronophilina subtribe. The diversity and structure of the community of pronophiline butterflies (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae) was determined in this study in an altitudinal gradient of the Cerro de Tierra Negra, in the department of Norte de Santander. Methodology: Eight stations were established to carry out the samplings on an altitudinal gradient between 2,700 and 3,400 meters above sea level using Van Someren-Rydon traps with attractant rotten fish baits and manual entomological nets along 100-meter transects. Results: A total of 25 species of pronophiline butterflies were found, observing a greater diversity of species in the stations of the high Andean strip (2,700-3,000 masl) and a restricted distribution pattern of some endemic species for the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia such as Lymanopoda samius, Altopedaliodes tamaensis and Altopedaliodes cocytia. A clear difference of two communities was also found in terms of the composition of species between the heights corresponding to high Andean forest and paramo. Conclusions: The importance of documenting the patterns of diversity and the community structure of butterflies in the high mountain landscapes of the Colombian Northeast in the scenario of global change is highlighted. These ecosystems are strategic for the conservation of biodiversity and the maintenance of populations of butterfly species considered rare and endemic at different altitude levels of distribution.