Study

The change of butterfly assemblages after artificial gap formation in an urban park

  • Published source details Yamamoto K. & Tuhara Y. (2004) 人工ギャップ造成とその造成後年数がチョウ類の種組成に及ぼす影響. Journal of the Japanese Institute of Landscape Architecture (1994+), 68, 585-588.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Clear or open patches in forests

Action Link
Butterfly and Moth Conservation
  1. Clear or open patches in forests

    A replicated, controlled study in 2001–2004 in an urban evergreen forest in the Kansai region, Japan (Yamamoto & Tuhara 2004) found that small cleared patches in the forest had a higher abundance and species richness of butterflies than the forest interior, but both abundance and species richness decreased with time since clearing. Two to three years after clearing, the abundance (56–142 individuals) and species richness (14–19 species) of butterflies in cleared patches was higher than in uncleared patches in the forest interior (abundance: 11 individuals; richness: 9 species). However, in the four patches cleared in the first year, abundance and species richness were higher in the year after clearing (abundance: 161 individuals; richness: 20 species) than three years after clearing (abundance: 76 individuals; richness: 18 species). In 2001 and 2002, four patches/year (15 × 15 m each) were cleared within a mature ring-cupped oak Quercus glauca and Japanese bay tree Machilus thunbergii forest (0.16–0.20 trees/m2). From April–September 2004, butterflies were surveyed three times/month in each cleared patch, and in four nearby patches of forest interior, for 10 minutes/plot. The four patches cleared in 2001 were surveyed in the same way in 2001.

    (Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)

Output references
What Works 2021 cover

What Works in Conservation

What Works in Conservation provides expert assessments of the effectiveness of actions, based on summarised evidence, in synopses. Subjects covered so far include amphibians, birds, mammals, forests, peatland and control of freshwater invasive species. More are in progress.

More about What Works in Conservation

Download free PDF or purchase
The Conservation Evidence Journal

The Conservation Evidence Journal

An online, free to publish in, open-access journal publishing results from research and projects that test the effectiveness of conservation actions.

Read the latest volume: Volume 21

Go to the CE Journal

Discover more on our blog

Our blog contains the latest news and updates from the Conservation Evidence team, the Conservation Evidence Journal, and our global partners in evidence-based conservation.


Who uses Conservation Evidence?

Meet some of the evidence champions

Endangered Landscape ProgrammeRed List Champion - Arc Kent Wildlife Trust The Rufford Foundation Save the Frogs - Ghana Mauritian Wildlife Supporting Conservation Leaders
Sustainability Dashboard National Biodiversity Network Frog Life The international journey of Conservation - Oryx Cool Farm Alliance UNEP AWFA Bat Conservation InternationalPeople trust for endangered species Vincet Wildlife Trust