Occurrence of Butterflies at Eastern and Central Uganda, 1932-2021
Citation
Collins S, Sáfián S, Beta J, Obondo D (2022). Occurrence of Butterflies at Eastern and Central Uganda, 1932-2021. A Rocha Kenya. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/kw6dms accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-11-12.Description
West Bugwe is one of only three natural forests remaining in Uganda’s Eastern region. Despite its designation as a Central Forest Reserve, it has continued to be degraded by encroachment and illegal activities such as charcoal burning, farming and fuel wood collection. It is one of the largest Forests in Eastern Uganda with a considerable butterfly diversity including a nationally threatened Euphaedra rex. This dataset presents butterfly specimens collected from West Bugwe Forest and its surroundings over eight decades and are stored at the African Butterfly Research Institute. A total number of 2,210 butterflies were recorded to represent 258 species from the documented 5 butterfly families in Uganda. These include, Hesperiidae (35), Nymphalidae (111), Lycaenidae (85), Papilionidae (12) and Pieridae (15).Purpose
The dataset intends to give a focus for the contemporary survey work and management decision. The records also focus on the priorities of key actions by highlighting species of conservation importance. It also gives a baseline information on the occurrence of butterflies at West Bugwe forest which will help to create the best body of evidence possible to guide the conservation work and policy decisions of our focal landscapes. Butterflies are a useful insect group in environmental monitoring and evaluation studies and have been used in several biodiversity monitoring programs around the globe with considerable success. This dataset gives access to the first of the over 3 Million specimens at ABRI.
Sampling Description
Study Extent
Butterfly collection was done along West Bugwe forests and its fragments, patches of Zika forest, Bunjako forest, Kadam mountain forest, Mpigi forests and its fragments, Mpanga, Mabira forest, Several patches of Buikwe forest, Napak Mountain forests, forest patches of Tororo, forest patches of Entebbe and Kisubi.Sampling
Intensive butterfly sampling was conducted along paths and small forest roads in the vegetation types. Butterflies were captured during the day using sweep nets either in flight or when settled while others were caught using bait traps. Thereafter the captured butterfly samples were collected carefully after stunning them by pinching the thorax and later preserved in the boxes. In some cases eggs and caterpillars of a few butterfly species were also collected and later bred within ABRI, this helps in the obtaining of perfect series within ABRI cabinets.Quality Control
Steve Collins, Director at ABRI and the lead author together with Szabolcs Sáfián, a lepidopterist, did all the butterfly identification. The butterfly species names recorded were referenced using the following websites: Global Biodiversity Information Facility Catalogue of Life Global Name Resolver African Butterfly Database Original dataset was then formatted while adhering to Darwin’s CoreMethod steps
- The bait traps were laid along paths and small roads of different vegetation types to attract butterflies. The collectors captured butterflies either in flight or at rest by the use of sweep nets. Sweep nets were held upside down to collect butterflies. The butterfly samples to be retained were then pinched on the thorax. With their wings over the back, the butterflies were then slipped into envelopes or paper triangles. Thereafter, specimens were dried, mounted, labelled and preserved in the ABRI collection. Google Earth was the major tool used to generate each coordinate for each locality, each coordinate is taken from a central position to represent the general locality. Open refine was the ultimate tool used for data cleaning, with this put to proper use the quality of data was enhanced and common errors made for localities were corrected, Spellings were under check too.
Taxonomic Coverages
Geographic Coverages
Butterfly collection was done along the Eastern and Central regions of Uganda that covers a total of 32 Uganda districts. These includes West Bugwe forests and its fragments, patches of Zika forest, Bunjako forest, Kadam mountain forest, Mpigi forests and its fragments, Mpanga, Mabira forest, Several patches of Buikwe forest, Napak Mountain forests, forest patches of Tororo, forest patches of Entebbe and Kisubi forests.
Bibliographic Citations
- Fatuma Mutesi, John Robert Stephen Tubuti, David Mfitumukiza, “Extent and Rate of Deforestation and Forest Degradation (1986-2016) in West Bugwe Central Forest Reserve, Uganda”, International Journal of Forest Research, vol. 2021, Article ID8860643, 10 pages, 2021. - https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8860643
- Protecting West Bugwe Forest: A pilot Project to preserve an Eastern Uganda natural forest. A Rocha Uganda. - https://uganda.arocha.org/projects/protecting-west-bugwe-forest/
- A.C Otieno and M. Buyinza, 2010. Collaborative Forest Management in Uganda: A Strategy for controlling Deforestation in West Bugwe Forest Reserve, Busia District. Research Journal of applied sciences, 5: 337-344. - https://medwelljournals.com/abstract/?doi=rjasci.2010.337.344
- Martins, DJ and Collins S. (2016) Butterflies of East Africa. -
Contacts
Steve Collinsoriginator
position: Director
African Butterfly Research Institute
P.O. BOX 14308
Nairobi
00800
KE
email: collinsabri@gmail.com
Szabolcs Sáfián
originator
position: Research Associate
Hungarian Natural History Museum
H-1088 Budapest
Budapest
Baross utca 13
HU
email: szsafian@gmail.com
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0614-4203
Julius Beta
originator
position: Data Capture Clerk
A Rocha Kenya
P.O Box 383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: betajulius46@gmail.com
homepage: https://www.arocha.or.ke/
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/beta-julius-85b867156/
Dorine Obondo
originator
position: Data Capture Clerk
A Rocha Kenya
P.O Box 383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: dorineauma702@gmail.com
homepage: https://www.arocha.or.ke/
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorine-obondo-7b8588226/
Steve Collins
metadata author
position: Director
African Butterfly Research Institute
P.O. BOX 14308
Nairobi
00800
KE
email: collinsabri@gmail.com
Szabolcs Sáfián
metadata author
position: Research Associate
Hungarian Natural History Museum
H-1088 Budapest
Budapest
Baross utca 13
HU
email: szsafian@gmail.com
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0614-4203
Dorine Obondo
metadata author
position: Data Capture Clerk
A Rocha Kenya
P.O Box 383
80202
KE
email: dorineauma702@gmail.com
homepage: https://www.arocha.or.ke/
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorine-obondo-7b8588226/
Julius Beta
metadata author
position: Data Capture Clerk
A Rocha Kenya
P.O Box 383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: betajulius46@gmail.com
homepage: https://www.arocha.or.ke/
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/beta-julius-85b867156/
Judith Ochieng
publisher
position: Project Coordinator BID-GBIF
A Rocha Kenya
P.O Box 383
80202
KE
email: judith.ochieng@arocha.org
homepage: https://www.arocha.or.ke/
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/judith-adhiambo-955399127/
Lawrence Monda
programmer
position: Technical Liaison GBIF Kenya
National Museums of Kenya
P.O Box 40658
Nairobi
00100
KE
email: Imonda@museums.or.ke
homepage: https://www.museums.or.ke/
Steve Collins
administrative point of contact
position: Director
African Butterfly Research Institute
P.O. BOX 14308
Nairobi
00800
KE
email: collinsabri@gmail.com