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Arthropods, 2021, 10(1): 1-17
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Environmental and soil gradient effects on biodiversity of butterflies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Haroon^1,2, Arif Jan², Emmanuel Chidiebere Edeh³, Mujeeb ur Rahman¹, Zahid Khan¹, Jan Muhammad⁴, Hanif Khan¹, Irfan Ullah¹, Ihsan Ali¹, Ihsan Muhammad⁵, Tauseef Ahmad⁶, LianXi Xing¹
¹College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xian, China
²Department of Zoology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal, Dir Upper, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
³School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, Xian, China
⁴Department of Mathematics, Northwest University, Xian, China
⁵Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xian 710127, China
⁶Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China

Received 14 November 2020;Accepted 20 December 2020;Published 1 March 2021
IAEES

Abstract
The natural territory disturbance, losses, and degradation are real and alarming threats to the ecosystem. The population of butterflies remains arbitrary in prairie residuals and linear range habitats. Such environments are low, isolated, and sub-quality than intact prairies - biodiversity losses associated with ecosystems regulating services and supporting services. Therefore, the present study was conducted on environmental variables and soil gradient and its effects on butterfly colonies in tehsil Tangi, Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of 506 specimens of butterflies and soil samples were collected from different localities randomly. Butterflies were collected with aerial nets, searching, and picking method, and taken to the laboratory for identification and recording concerning each location every two weeks from August 2014 to May 2015. The similarity index among individuals was 246 (47%), while among species 45.5 (8.62%) and Catopsilia pyranthe were at (35/122; 14/30; 7/14; 6.91/24.11) position, similarly in dissimilarity index, Catopsilia ponoma was at (58/122; 19/30; 9/14; 11.460/24.11) position. The density revealed that the Danauas chrysippus was the most abundant species 122/506. Similarly, among environmental gradients, silt associated considerably with pH, wilting point (Wp), field capacity (Fc), bulk density (Bd), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Shy) and available water (Aw) (p≈0.000), sand with pH, Wp, Fc and Bd (p≈0.000), pH with Wp, Fc and Bd (p≈0.000), Wp with Fc, Bd, and Aw (p≈0.000), Fc with Bd and Aw (p≈0.000). We concluded that low latitude and altitude, excessive amounts of insecticides and pesticides show a significant impact on butterflies' diversity.

Keywords environmental gradients;butterflies;relative frequency;biodiversity;Pakistan.

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