@article {22739, title = {Diversity patterns and seasonality of hawkmoths (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) from northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India}, journal = {Journal of Threatened Taxa}, volume = {14}, year = {2022}, month = {11/2022}, pages = {22105-22117}, chapter = {22105}, abstract = {

\"As most of the biodiversity studies report the abundance and enlist the species, there is severe data deficiency in understanding the diversity patterns. The present study was designed to carry out periodic diversity assessments to understand the trends in diversity patterns of hawk moths. The study was carried out in the northern Western Ghats in Nashik district. Seven sampling stations were identified and periodic visits to these places were carried out over the span of five years (2011\–2015). A total of 463 moths were recorded belonging to 18 species, represented by 10 genera. A new record from Western Ghat, Theretra sumatrensis (Joicey \& Kaye 1917) is reported for the first time along with its DNA barcode. Six diversity indices (four alpha diversity indices and two beta diversity indices) were employed to understand the diversity dynamics. Whittaker\’s plot was generated using the rank abundance suggesting high species evenness for all sampling stations. Maximum diversity was observed during Monsoon. Wani was the most diverse sampling station throughout the study period (Shannon\’s Index = 2.7132\±0.060; Simpson\’s Index = 0.9273\±0.006; Brillouin\’s Index = 2.252\±0.089; Fisher\’s alpha = 10.9472\±1.685). Beta diversity was assessed with the help of Dice\’s coefficient and Jaccard\’s similarity index. Hence, we recommend rigorous periodic diversity assessments to generate adequate information about diversity that expedites conservational strategies\’ pace.\"

}, keywords = {ABUNDANCE, ACHERONTIA, AGRIUS, ALPHA DIVERSITY, BARCODING, BETA DIVERSITY, DAPHNIS, DIVERSITY, DNA, HIPPOTION, HYLES, INDIA, MARUMBA, NEIGHBOR-JOINING, NEPHELE, POLYPTYCHUS, PSILOGRAMMA, SHANNON-WEINER INDEX, SIMPSON{\textquoteright}S INDEX, SPHINGIDAE, THERETRA, WORLDMAP1}, issn = {0974-7893}, doi = {10.11609/jott.7511.14.11.22105-22117}, url = {https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7511.14.11.22105-22117}, author = {Shere-Kharwar, A.S. and Magdum, S.M. and Khedkar, G.D. and Gupta, S.S.} } @article {22462, title = {Alpha and beta diversity patterns of macro-moths reveal a breakpoint along a latitudinal gradient in Mongolia.}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {11}, year = {2021}, month = {11/2021}, pages = {15018}, chapter = {15018}, abstract = {

\"Little is known about the diversity and distribution patterns of moths along latitudinal gradients. We studied macro-moths in Mongolia along an 860\ km latitudinal climatic gradient to gain knowledge on community composition, alpha, beta, and gamma diversity as well as underlying factors, which can be used as baseline information for further studies related to climate change. We identified 236 species of moths of ten families. Our study shows that the diversity of moths increased with the latitude, i.e., low species richness in the south and higher richness in the north. Moth community composition changed along the gradient, and we revealed a breakpoint of beta diversity that divided grassland and desert communities. In the desert, beta diversity was driven by species loss (i.e., nestedness), and few tolerant species existed with high abundance. In contrast, in the grassland, beta diversity was driven by species replacement with more unique species, (i.e., species which occurred only in one site). We found the lowest species diversity in the transitional zones dominated by few generalist species such as Agrotis ripae and Anarta trifolii. Low precipitation and an increasing number of grazing goats are drivers of species loss. We suggest different conservation strategies regarding the contrasting patterns of beta diversity in desert and grassland.\"

}, keywords = {ABUNDANCE, ALPHA DIVERSITY, BETA DIVERSITY, BIODIVERSITY, CALLAMBULYX, DEILEPHILA, DIVERSITY, ECOLOGY, HYLES, LAOTHOE, LATITUDINAL GRADIENT, LEPIDOPTERA, MARUMBA, MONGOLIA, RICHNESS, SMERINTHUS, SPHINGIDAE, SPHINX, TRAITS, WORLDMAP1}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-021-94471-3}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94471-3}, author = {Enkhtur, K. and Brehm, G. and Boldgiv, B. and Pfeiffer, M.} } @article {22461, title = {Effects of grazing on macro-moth assemblages in two different biomes in Mongolia}, journal = {Ecological Indicators}, volume = {133}, year = {2021}, month = {11/2021}, pages = {108421}, chapter = {108421}, abstract = {

\"Intensive land use, e.g. pastoralism, decreases biodiversity and leads to homogenization of habitats. However, the effect of land-use changes differs under varying climatic conditions. Thus, it is essential to study how land use affects biodiversity on a large scale. Moreover, species respond differently to environmental changes depending on whether they are specialists or generalists. We studied macro-moths in Mongolian pastures under two different grazing regimes (grazed and less grazed plots) in ten study sites that belong to two distinct biomes along a large-scale latitudinal gradient from desert to steppe. We explored 1) how livestock grazing affects macro moth diversity, species composition, and species richness, 2) how specialist and generalist moths respond to grazing in desert (Desert and xeric shrublands) and grassland (Temperate grasslands, savannas \& shrublands). Moths are sensitive to environmental changes and suitable bioindicators. We also revealed a) indicators of grazing and b) indicators representative for certain sections of the latitudinal gradient. Totally, we recorded 80 species in the desert and 202 species in grassland in 2018 and 2019, which were DNA barcoded. In the desert, grazing did not affect macro-moth diversity, whereas grassland was negatively affected. However, not all moth families showed the same response to grazing. Species diversity, species richness, and abundance of Erebidae, Geometridae, and Noctuidae were significantly higher in the less grazed plots. Further, species dissimilarity between grazed and less grazed plots was mainly due to species replacement rather than species loss. In the desert, the species richness of both specialist and generalist moths did not differ between grazed and less grazed plots; in contrast, in grassland, the species richness of both groups was higher in less grazed plots. We found two indicator species of grazing in the desert: Hyles chuvilini in less grazed, and Cucullia splendida in grazed pasture. In grassland, we found ten indicator species exclusively for less grazed pastures: Catarhoe cuculata, Euxoa ochrogaster, Lacanobia thalassina, Megalycinia strictaria, Mythimna comma, Polia bombycina, Rhyacia simulans, Sideridis kitti, Sideridis egena, and Smerinthus caecus. These indicator species can be used as references for habitat quality and for moths\’ dispersal due to climate change in future studies. Among the environmental variables, plant species richness, altitude, and livestock number were the most important variables. Species composition of high altitudes in the desert was distinct, and higher species richness in this area indicated that high altitudes could serve as a refuge area during global warming and should receive conservation management.\"

}, keywords = {ABUNDANCE, ANTHROPOGENE, BETA DIVERSITY, CALLAMBULYX, DEILEPHILA, DIVERSITY, ECOLOGY, GRAZING, HABITAT DISTURBANCE, HYLES, INDICATOR GROUP, LAOTHOE, LEPIDOPTERA, LIVESTOCK, MARUMBA, MONGOLIA, RICHNESS, SMERINTHUS, SPHINGIDAE, SPHINX, TRAITS}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108421}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108421}, author = {Enkhtur, K. and Brehm, G. and Boldgiv, B. and Pfeiffer, M.} } @article {19892, title = {Seasonal trends of forest moth assemblages in central Hokkaido, northern Japan}, journal = {Journal of the Lepidopterists{\textquoteright} Society}, volume = {66}, year = {2012}, month = {2012}, pages = {11-26}, chapter = {11}, keywords = {ACTIAS, CALLAMBULYX, DIVERSITY, FLIGHT PERIOD, JAPAN, LEPIDOPTERA, MARUMBA, PHENOLOGY, SATURNIA, SATURNIIDAE, SPHINGIDAE, WORLDMAP1}, url = {https://doi.org/10.18473/lepi.v66i1.a2}, author = {Sayama, K. and Ito, M. and Tabuchi, K. and Ueda, A. and Ozaki, K. and Hironaga, T.} }