Occurrence of Butterflies in Kenyan Coastal Forests, 1914 to 2022
Citation
Collins S, Sáfián S, Obondo D, Beta J, Auma D (2023). Occurrence of Butterflies in Kenyan Coastal Forests, 1914 to 2022. Version 1.5. A Rocha Kenya. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/py3efd accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-12.Description
Kenya coastal forests are the forests of the coastal strip of Kenya in east Africa which are composed of mangrove forests of the salt-water coasts, the forests of the mountain systems and the lowland forest patches (Mutuku P. 2005). These forests lie between Latitude 2°22'S, Longitude 40°28'E Lamu and latitude 4°38'S, Longitude 39°22'E Kwale and are distributed in four counties: Lamu to the North, Kilifi in the middle and Kwale to the south including Mombasa City (Matiku, P. (2005)). These forests are biodiversity hotspot areas with high butterfly abundance that have attracted international interest over the last decades as the realization of its biodiversity importance. This dataset presents 7,792 records of butterfly specimens preserved at the African Butterfly Research Institute. A total of 263 species of butterflies were recorded belonging to five key butterfly families in Kenya, namely Hesperiidae (38), Papilionidae (14), Pieridae (36), Nymphalidae (108), Lycaenidae (67). Some of the rare butterfly species of the Kenya Coast include Charaxes acuminatus shimbanus endemic to Shimba Hills, Amauris nossima mrima endemic to Mrima Hill and rare Coeliades chalybe, Artitropa reducta that were discovered from Base Titanium and Shimba Hills respectively during Environmental Impact Assessment and have been recorded in this dataset.Purpose
This dataset gives a baseline information on the occurrence of butterflies at the Kenya Coastal forests which will help to create the best body of evidence possible to guide the conservation work and policy decisions of our focal landscapes. Butterflies are key ecosystem indicators and their distribution may become a campaign tool towards the conservation of specific habitats (Beta et al. 2021), the major goal for this project. It also intends to give a focus for the contemporary survey work and management decision. The records also focus on the priorities of key actions by highlighting species of conservation importance. It also gives access to the first of the over 3 million specimens of ABRI.
Sampling Description
Study Extent
These data are an occurrence dataset of butterflies collected from the coastal forests of Kenya and their adjacent areas which include: Arabuko Sokoke Forest, Shimba Hills, Witu Forest, Shimoni, Base Titanium, Jilore, Gongoni forest, Kararacha, Watamu, Gede, Mrima Hill, Galana Ranch, Diani, Kaya Kinondo, Malindi, Marenje forest, Mungea Hill, Msambweni, Shimo la Tewa, Tana Deta, Turtle Bay and Zombo forest.Sampling
The intensive butterfly sampling was conducted along paths and small forest roads in the vegetation types. The butterflies were captured during the day using sweep nets either in flight or when settled and traps. Specimens reared from larva or ova were also collected from the field. The collected specimens were preserved in the ABRI collection.Quality Control
Steve Collins, Director at ABRI and the lead author, did most of the butterfly identification and assisted by other lepidopterists including Szabolcs Safian, T. Pyrcz and Dr. V.G.L. Van. SomerenThe butterfly species names recorded were referenced using the following books and websites: 1. Torben Larsen’s Book on The Butterflies of Kenya and their natural history 2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility 3. Catalogue of Life 4. Global Name Resolver Original dataset was then formatted while adhering to Darwin’s Core Standards.
Method steps
- The bait traps were laid along paths and small roads of different vegetation types to attract butterflies. The collectors captured butterflies either in flight or at rest by the use of sweep nets. Sweep nets were held upside down to collect butterflies. The butterfly samples to be retained were then pinched on the thorax. With their wings over the back, the butterflies were then slipped into envelopes or paper triangles. Thereafter, specimens were dried, mounted, labelled and preserved in the ABRI collection. Google Earth was the major tool used to generate each coordinate for each locality, each coordinate was taken from a central position to represent the general locality. Open refine was the ultimate tool used for data cleaning. With this put to proper use, the quality of data was enhanced and common errors made for localities were corrected and spellings were under check too. Mounted specimens are stored in tightly closed boxes. Dichlorvos is used to prevent dermestid beetles and book lice from feeding on the body parts. Freezing of boxes is used as an additional pest control in a chest deep freeze Boxes usually glass topped stored in a bookshelf fashion. (This is according to the Continental European Style)
Taxonomic Coverages
Geographic Coverages
The specimens were collected from coastal forests of Kenya and some of their adjacent areas which includes: Arabuko Sokoke (latitude 3°20’S, longitude 39°52E) Shimba Hills (latitude 4°14’S, longitude 39°24E), Base Titanium (latitude 4°22’S, longitude 39°25’E), Witu Forest (latitude 2°22’S, longitude 40°28’E), Mrima Hill (Latitude 4°24’S, Longitude39°28’E), Buda forest (Latitude 4°27’S, Longitude 39°24’E), Gongoni Forest (Latitude4°22S Longitude39°32’E).The coordinates were obtained using Google earth and are representatives of general localities therefore are not the actual collection points.
Bibliographic Citations
- 1. Beta J.O., & Ngaruiya G. (2021). Butterfly distribution and habitat conservation status at A Rocha Dakatcha Nature Reserve, Kilifi County, Kenya. African Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 2(2), 127-135 - https://doi.org/10.33886/ajpas.v2i2.216
- 2. Collins S., Jenner D., Jackson C., Ochieng J., Mugalo D. (2019). A Checklist of the Butterflies of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Kenya. A Rocha Kenya. - https://doi.org/10.15468/bj0vpx
- 3. Larsen TB (1991). The Butterflies of Kenya and Their Natural History. -
- 4. Martins, DJ and Collins S. (2016) Butterflies of East Africa. -
- 5. Matiku, P. (2005). The Coastal Forests of Kenya: Forests data, threats, socio-economic issues, values, stakeholders, challenges, strategies, investment and enabling environment--A national synthesis report for the development of the WWF-EARPO Eastern Africa Coastal Forests Ecoregion Programme. -
- 6. Martin R. Nielsen & Claudia Sick (2008). Conservation and use of Witu Forest, Kenya: Biodiversity and disturbance survey and management recommendations. Danish Zoological society, Copenhagen -
- 7. Ngumbau, V. M., Luke, Q., Nyange, M., Wanga, V. O., Watuma, B. M., Mbuni, Y. M., Munyao, J. N., Oulo, M. A., Mkala, E. M., Kipkoech, S., Itambo, Hu, G. W., Wang, Q. F. (2020). An annotated checklist of the coastal forests of Kenya, East Africa. PhytoKeys, 147, 1–191. - https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.147.49602
- 8. Williams, MC (2018). A checklist of the Afrotropical Butterflies, 17th edition Google scholar -
Contacts
Steve Collinsoriginator
position: Director
African Butterfly Research Institute
P.O. BOX 14308
Nairobi
00800
KE
Telephone: +254722701021
email: collinsabri@gmail.com
Szabolcs Sáfián
originator
position: Researcher
Hungarian Natural History Museum
H-1088 Budapest
Budapest
Baross utca 13
HU
email: szsafian@gmail.com
Dorine Obondo
originator
position: Data Capture Clerk
A Rocha Kenya
383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: dorineauma702@gmail.com
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorine-obondo-7b8588226/
Julius Beta
originator
position: Data Capture Clerk
A Rocha Kenya
383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: betajulius46@gmail.com
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/beta-julius-85b867156/
Steve Collins
metadata author
position: Director
African Butterfly Research Institute
P.O. BOX 14308
Nairobi
00800
KE
Telephone: +254722701021
email: collinsabri@gmail.com
Szabolcs Sáfián
metadata author
position: Researcher
Hungarian Natural History Museum
H-1088 Budapest
Budapest
Baross utca 13
HU
email: szsafian@gmail.com
Dorine Auma
metadata author
position: Data Capture Clerk
A Rocha Kenya
383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: dorineauma702@gmail.com
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorine-obondo-7b8588226/
Julius Beta
metadata author
position: Data Capture Clerk
A Rocha Kenya
383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: betajulius46@gmail.com
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/beta-julius-85b867156/
Lawrence Monda
programmer
position: Technical Liaison GBIF Kenya
National Museums of Kenya
P.O Box 40658
00100
KE
email: Imonda@museums.or.ke
Judith Ochieng
publisher
position: Project Coordinator
A Rocha Kenya
383
Watamu
80202
KE
email: judith.ochieng@arocha.org
homepage: https://www.arocha.or.ke/
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=https://www.linkedin.com/in/judith-adhiambo-955399127/
Steve Collins
administrative point of contact
position: Director
African Butterfly Research Institute
P.O. BOX 14308
Nairobi
00800
KE
Telephone: +254722701021
email: collinsabri@gmail.com