Plains to peaks: an analysis of the relationship between Colorado butterfly communities and altitude
Abstract
We compared butterfly communities of the Plains, Foothills, and Montane Zones of the Colorado Front Range and examined 3 groups of butterflies—blues (Polyommatinae species), fritillaries (Speyeria and Boloria spp.), and painted ladies (species Vanessa cardui)—for altitude shifts between 2014 and 2020. We conducted these analyses using data collected by volunteer butterfly monitors from the Colorado Butterfly Monitoring Network, a group organized and run by Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, Colorado. Monitors walked designated routes and counted all butterflies they saw, identifying each to the lowest possible taxonomic group they could. We sorted routes into the 3 altitude zones, organized data by family, species, and group (blues/fritillaries), and standardized data by time spent monitoring. We used ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis tests to compare the altitude zones and examine the data for altitude shifts. Finally, we calculated relative abundance (number of individuals captured each session), species richness, Shannon–Wiener diversity index, Simpson’s diversity index, and 2 evenness indices for a smaller subset of the data. We found that the Plains Zone differed significantly from the Foothills and Montane Zones in terms of family and species composition. We also found that species richness and diversity peaked in the Foothills Zone. We found no evidence for altitude shifts among the 3 butterfly groups studied but did observe a significant increase in painted ladies from 2016 to 2017 in all zones. We concluded that the 3 altitude zones have differing butterfly communities and that the Foothills Zone should be a priority for conservation efforts along the Colorado Front Range.
Comparamos las comunidades de mariposas de llanuras, estribaciones y zonas montañosas de las montañas rocosas de Colorado y examinamos tres grupos de mariposas—azul (especie Polyommatinae), fritillary (Speyeria y Boloria spp.) y vanesa de los cardos (especie Vanessa cardui)—para determinar los cambios de altitud entre 2014 y 2020. Llevamos a cabo estos análisis utilizando datos recopilados por monitores voluntarios de mariposas de la Red de Monitoreo de Mariposas de Colorado, un grupo organizado y dirigido por Butterfly Pavilion en Westminster, Colorado. Los monitores caminaron rutas designadas y contaron todas las mariposas que vieron, identificando cada una de ellas hasta el grupo taxonómico más bajo posible. Clasificamos las rutas en tres zonas de altitud, organizamos la información por familia, especie y grupo (azul/fritillary) y estandarizamos los datos de acuerdo con el tiempo de seguimiento. Utilizamos las pruebas ANOVA y Kruskal–Wallis para comparar las zonas de altitud y examinar los datos de los cambios de altitud. Finalmente, calculamos abundancia relativa (número de individuos capturados en cada sesión), riqueza de las especies, el índice de diversidad de Shannon–Wiener, el índice de diversidad de Simpson y dos índices de uniformidad en un conjunto más pequeño de datos. Encontramos que la Zona de las Llanuras difería significativamente de las zonas de Estribaciones y Montañas en cuanto a la composición de familias y especies. También encontramos que la riqueza y la diversidad de las especies alcanzó su punto máximo en la zona de estribaciones. No encontramos evidencia de cambios de altitud entre los tres grupos de mariposas estudiados, pero sí observamos un aumento significativo de la mariposa vanesa de los cardos de 2016 a 2017 en todas las zonas. Concluimos de que las tres zonas de altitud tienen diferentes comunidades de mariposas y que las estribaciones deben ser de prioridad para los esfuerzos de conservación a lo largo de las montañas rocosas de Colorado.
Recommended Citation
James, Anna O.; Hokamp, Kathryn; García-Hellmuth, Chris; and Reading, Richard P.
(2023)
"Plains to peaks: an analysis of the relationship between Colorado butterfly communities and altitude,"
Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 83:
No.
1, Article 8.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol83/iss1/8
Mean ranks of 5 focus families within 3 altitude zones (Plains, Foothills, and Montane). Ranks are used to compare butterfly family distributions within altitudinal zone.
83.1.8 Supplementary Material 2.pdf (24 kB)
Mean ranks of the 5 focus families across altitude zones (Plains, Foothills, and Montane). Ranks are used to compare differences between 3 altitudinal zones for each butterfly family.
83.1.8 Supplementary Material 3.pdf (27 kB)
Mean ranks for total blue butterflies sighted per hour across altitudinal zones (Plains, Foothills, and Montane) for each year (2014–2020). Ranks are used to compare differences in blues sighted per hour between zones for each year.
83.1.8 Supplementary Material 4.pdf (27 kB)
Mean ranks for total fritillary butterflies sighted per hour across altitudinal zones (Plains, Foothills, and Montane) for each year (2014–2020). Ranks are used to compare differences between the zones for each year of the study.
83.1.8 Supplementary Material 5.pdf (27 kB)
Mean ranks for total painted lady butterflies sighted per hour across altitudinal zones (Plains, Foothills, and Montane) for each year (2014–2020). Ranks are used to compare differences between the zones for each year of the study.