The species richness of Lepidoptera in a fragmented landscape: a supplement to the checklist of moths of Butler County, Ohio.

摘要: Land conversion for agriculture or urban expansion has fragmented the midwestern landscape and isolated native biotas in remnant habitat patches. Identification of priority remnants to be targeted conservation, however, requires an understanding species diversity distributions such landscapes. During a 3-year inventory, we estimated richness Lepidoptera forests old fields within agricultural region southwest Ohio, Butler County. A combination casual collecting (butterflies) systematic field study (moths) were used sample lepidopteran at several sites from 1998-2000. Our inventory added 207 new checklist County, bringing total described 599 (including Peoria tetradella (Pyralidae), state record). The accumulation curve produced our 1999 moth did not reach saturation, suggesting that additional remain recorded. These results indicate even highly modified landscapes can support substantial if there are sufficient areas habitat. Since short-term insect inventories tend biased toward common, well-known species, rapid assessments may miss important elements conservation interest. Checklists should data source occurrences biogeography. Without well-established knowledge geography, critical interest overlooked left unprotected.