Butterfly research was conducted in the Lekgalametse Nature Reserve from the 28th to the 30th of April 2021.
The time was also used as a social-learning and team-building event for 15 K2C Environmental Monitors from different regions, from Lekgalameetse, Olifants, and Phiring. For those that do not know, the Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve is a conserved mountain wilderness of about 18,718 ha, situated west of Trichardtsdal in the northern Drakensberg of Limpopo Province, South Africa.
On the first day, a route from the Lekgalameetse entrance gate to the waterfall was followed. Two teams were allocated a sweeping net each. The atmospheric conditions were perfect for ectotherms and many butterflies were spotted, caught, squeezed on their thorax, and kept safe for later identification.
The team had diverse background knowledge on biodiversity. Within the research team, there was Lucius, who was assisting in identifying the arachnids, amphibians, and plants. His knowledge of invertebrates sparked the brains of the whole team, many of whom knew little about these small creatures. Most flora and fauna of the region were identified whilst catching butterflies. The dominant butterfly species spotted on this day was the Soldier Pansy. Research was not conducted on camp days, so most butterflies were caught and released as they had been collected previously. This highlights the eco-friendliness of the methods used to collect butterflies.
On the 2nd day of research, the temperature was not in favor of mobility for most butterflies; it was windy and overcast. However, the team took a 5km route from the entrance gate to the south-side gravel road of the reserve. The team took three hours to reach the waterfall. The Olifants and Phiring Enviromental Monitors were excited to experience the beauty of the waterfall and its surroundings.
Fruit traps containing four month old fermented banana bait were hung in trees in the early morining and retrived in the late afternoon when specimens collected were documented. Two sweeping nets were also used to evaluate species diversity.
The research had four main goals to achieve. The first goal was to determine the butterfly species diversity of the Reserve; the second, to assess the concentration of different species in various habitats; the third, to assess the hotspots of butterfly species in the Reserve and lastly, to identify the correlation between seasons and butterfly species richness.
The overall results showed that Lekgalameetse has diverse flora and fauna. 12 different butterfly species were collected during the research, 6 species on the first day and 6 species on the second day. Some species were identified, and some are still awaiting identification. The Lekgalameetse Enviromental Monitors have already collected more than 40 different butterfly species, which is more than the 1990 Master Plan of the Lekgalameetse.
The Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve is believed to have a diverse number of butterfly species.
The results indicate that various environmental factors (humidity, temperature, and wind intensity); habitat variables (host plant and vegetation) and elevation indicate a strong correlation with species richness and diversity. Certain butterfly species can survive cold, windy conditions, however, the highest diversity of butterflies is observed during blooming season, and at less steep elevations.
More research has to be done to identify the relationship between vegetation types and butterfly species richness.
The research team would like to acknowledge the K2C management for food provision, Prof. Alan Gardiner for assisting in identification of the butterflies and the Lekgalameetse management for hospitality.
First printed in the Kruger
to Canyons Biosphere
Newsletter June 21
