Influência de fatores abióticos na comunidade de borboletas (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) no extremo sul do Brasil

Abstract

The assembly of butterflies found in a given location can be explained, most of the time, by the variation of environmental gradients, which involve climatic factors. The most important climate variations include changes in temperature, humidity, wind speed, luminosity and rainfall. These climatic variables correlate with each other and, together, affect the activity of these individuals. Despite the extensive taxonomic and systematic knowledge accumulated over the years, there are few studies in Rio Grande do Sul about the influence of climatic variables on the composition, abundance and richness of butterflies. Due to this, the present study sought to fill some existing gaps in relation to how much the previously mentioned variables influence the community composition of these insects. For the database, inventory studies with standardized methodology previously performed in the State were used. Multivariate analyzes were performed to verify the relationship between abiotic factors and the structuring of the community of butterflies studied here. Of the eight climatic variables analyzed - temperature, wind velocity, precipitation, luminosity and relative humidity, all proved to be significant predictors at some level in the lepidopterofauna distribution. Although a portion of the data has not been fully explained, the results found in the present study show the relevance of local climatic variables in the composition and diversity of the butterfly community. It is hoped that this knowledge may be useful in the elaboration of future plans for the management and conservation of the subtropical lepidopterofauna and its associated biodiversity.