Diversity and distribution of Fruit‐feeding butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda

Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, hosts a rich diversity of fruit-feeding butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), with 56 species recorded, including 10 Albertine Rift endemics. A study revealed that 77% of these species thrive between 1700 and 2100 meters in elevation, with higher richness and abundance during the dry season. The research used stratified seasonal sampling with fruit-baited traps across an elevation gradient from 1700 to 2950 meters. This study provides critical baseline data for monitoring climate change impacts on high mountain tropical rainforests within the Albertine Rift region, contributing significantly to our understanding of butterfly diversity in underexplored Afrotropical Mountains.

Uwizelimana, J. d. D., Nsabimana, D., & Wagner, T. (2022). Diversity and distribution of Fruit‐feeding butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda. African Journal of Ecology, 60(3), 621–632. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.12997