Author(s)

Privatus M. Kasisi^1*, Nsajigwa Mbije², Paul Lyimo¹

¹Departiment of Ecosystem Science and Management, College of Forest, Wildlife and Tourism, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.
²Departiment of Wildlife Management, College of Forest, Wildlife and Tourism, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.

Maintaining natural habitats is crucial for the preservation of insects and other species that indicate environmental changes. However, the Mpanga/Kipengere Game Reserve and its surrounding farmlands are facing disturbance due to human activities, which is putting many wildlife species, particularly larger mammals, at risk. To determine the impact of human activities on butterfly species diversity and abundance in the reserve and its surrounding areas, we conducted a study from November 2021 to October 2023. We collected butterfly data using transect walks and baited traps in two habitat types. Our study yielded 2799 butterfly Individuals ranging in 124 species divided into five families habitat, season, and anthropogenic factors are significant environmental variables influencing species diversity and abundance of butterflies. Therefore, it’s important to protect habitat and dry-season water for the conservation of invertebrates such as butterflies. Our study findings provide essential information for ecological monitoring and future assessment of the Mpanga/Kipengere Game Reserve ecosystem health.

Mpanga Kipengere Game Reserve, Species Diversity, Habitat, Butterflies, Season, Human Activities

Kasisi, P. , Mbije, N. and Lyimo, P. (2024) Impacts of Human Activities and Season on Species Diversity and Abundance of Butterflies in Mpanga Kipengere Game Reserve and Surrounding Farmlands, Tanzania. Open Journal of Ecology, 14, 274-291. doi: 10.4236/oje.2024.144017.