Least-biased Extrapolation of a Partial Inventory of Butterfly Fauna in Manas Range (Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan)

Researchers estimated that the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan, hosts approximately 120 butterfly species. Using a least-biased extrapolation procedure on partial inventory data (91 observed species), they predicted total species richness with an estimated sampling completeness of around 76%. This method outperformed six alternative empirical models for species accumulation curves, with the Clench model being the least inaccurate among them. The study highlights the potential of extrapolating incomplete inventories to derive reliable biodiversity predictions, offering a robust approach for assessing species diversity in tropical ecosystems.

Béguinot, J., & Nidup, T. (2017). Least-biased Extrapolation of a Partial Inventory of Butterfly Fauna in Manas Range (Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan). Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology, 2(2), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajee/2017/32701