We explored if neighborhoods shaped by varying demographic and socioeconomic conditions differed in types and diversity of butterflies. We used eight census-track block groups and paired them to represent the four neighborhood types identified in Columbia, MO. These paired census-tract block groups became our surrogates for neighborhoods. The four neighborhood types identified were described in terms of median household income, ethnicity, education, and percentage of home ownership. We measured butterfly diversity, during the summer and fall seasons, in relation to the differences in species composition, abundance, and richness at the family level. Additionally, we recorded the activity of butterflies. Two Fifteen minute time-counts were performed in each of thirty randomly selected 100m transects during the summer and fall seasons. Time-counts started at one end of each transect and concluded 15 minutes later at the other end. Counts were restricted to wind speeds under 21 mph and temperatures above 65° Fahrenheit. Variables recorded included species, weather conditions, and butterfly activity. Butterfly activity was defined as perching, basking, feeding, flying, and courting. Jaccard’s index was used to describe butterfly similarities among the neighborhoods, while ANOVA was used to analyze differences in total butterflies counted, species richness, and activity of the butterflies.
Results/Conclusions One hundred eighty individuals of 16 species belonging to seven families were recorded over the summer and fall seasons. The summer season, Pieridae (53%) and Hesperiidae (32%) had the most relative abundance and the fall season, Hesperiidae (44%) Danaidae (21%) Overall, Butterflies of the family Hesperiidae (39%) and Pieridae (39%) had the most relative abundance among the four neighborhood types. There was no difference among the four neighborhoods in number butterflies / count (P=0.145) and no difference in number of butterflies/count between seasons (P = 0.220). There were no differences in species richness among neighborhoods (P=0.134) and in species richness among seasons (P=0.937). Flying (37%) was the most frequent activity. perching (20%) was the second activity seen in summer, while feeding (24%) was the second activity seen in the fall.
