The pine rocklands in South Florida are home to a variety of native species that play a large role in their environment, and a species that is especially vital to this ecosystem are butterflies. Being able to establish the presence/absence of native butterfly species allows for close monitoring of these species and characterization of population trends that could aid in the conservation and preservation of these native butterfly species. This study was conducted within two habitats , the pine rocklands and Zoo Miami, where strip censuses were completed within both habitats to monitor the occurrences of adult native butterflies, such as Monarchs, Atalas, Hairstreaks, Sulphurs, Whites, etc. This study first began in October 2016 and the data has been collected up to January 2018, but the study is still ongoing.
Results/Conclusions
Upon completing the study, it can be identified that some species were more commonly found in one habitat than in the other, such as family Pieridae being located more in Zoo Miami while family Hesperiidae are more commonly located in the pine rocklands. Many factors that can contribute to findings like this can be the fact that landscaping within Zoo Miami may include plants that favor more towards one butterfly species than the other, or the differing temperatures in both habitats may have an effect on the species that are found in that habitat. Future studies that can be performed can be towards how human development affects these native butterfly populations, and how development should be done with consideration that should be placed into the plants that are placed in the area in regards to the affected species that inhabit the area, and minimize damage to native species.