Butterfly species’ responses to urbanization: differing effects of human population density and built-up area

摘要: Good knowledge on how increasing urbanization affects biodiversity is essential in order to preserve urban green spaces. We examined development species richness and total abundance of butterflies as well the occurrence individual within Helsinki metropolitan area Northern Europe. Repeated butterfly counts 167 separate 1-km-long transects covered entire gradient, quantified by human population density proportion built-up (within a 50-m buffer surrounding each transect). found consistently negative effects both all studied variables, though responded markedly more negatively than area. Responses showed higher variability relation density, especially areas high density. Increasing affected 47% 19 most abundant species, whereas, for area, corresponding percentages were 32% 32%, respectively. Species with habitat specificity low mobility sensitivity (especially density) generalists mobile that dominated communities. Our results suggest provides better indicator compared The generality this finding should be verified other contexts taxonomic groups.