Butterflies as indicator taxa of ecological disturbance at Menagesha-Suba state forest, central Ethiopia

Abstract

Menagesha-Suba State Forest, the ecological indicators role of butter­flies was assessed at five and three habitat types using transect method. Thirty transects representing five different habitat types were set up at the altitudes from 2200 to 3300 masl, from the natural closed forest to the agricultural land, with a length of 100 m for each transect. Indicator values were quantified for each butterfly family, genus and species. The results showed no butterfly family and genus which could be used as ecological indicator for the natural closed for­est. Nevertheless, at the species level, three butterfly species, Charaxesphoebus, Vanessa abyssinica and Coliaselecto can be used as eco­logical indicators to assess the impact of disturbance on the natural closed forest as well as the habitat inside forest. In addition, the genus Charaxes and Vanessa for the habitat inside forest and the genus Colias for the habitats outside forest, and for the shrub and grassland could be used as eco-indicators. As a result, conservation of their habitats at landscape level is important for conservation of butterfly fauna of the study area.