[Objective] Butterflies serve as a vital environmental indicator, which are highly
sensitive to ecological shifts induced by human activities. As urbanization
intensifies, the diversity of butterflies faces escalating threats. The abundance
and composition of butterfly communities are profoundly influenced by
landscape characteristics. Consequently, butterflies are frequently adopted as
model organisms to elucidate strategies for landscape planning and habitat
management in eco-friendly urban areas, mitigating adverse impacts on urban
biodiversity caused by human activities. Numerous international researches
have investigated the feasibility of enhancing butterfly diversity through urban
landscape construction, while some developed nations have transformed
theoretical insights into practical implementation. China has a relatively weak
research foundation in relevant fields, necessitating urgent exploration of
methods tailored to its national conditions for constructing urban butterfly
habitats.
[Methods] This research establishes a comprehensive theoretical foundation for
the research on butterfly habitat landscape based on literature review. By
analyzing successful experience in butterfly and habitat conservation from the
United Kingdom (“UK”) and the United States (“US”), the research conducts a
comparative assessment of butterfly conversation status between China and
other nations, culminating in a proposed strategy for constructing butterfly
ecological landscape. Taking the southern Jiangsu region as an example, the
research develops ecological landscape application models for two selected
butterfly groups.
[Results] TThe literature review underscores three pivotal levels of butterfly
habitat conservation: ensuring habitat area and connectivity, constructing highquality habitats with landscape heterogeneity, and integrating varied landscape
scales to maximize conservation efficacy for diverse butterfly species.
Consequently, safeguarding urban butterfly habitats necessitates securing
habitat areas both surrounding and within cities through macro-level planning
while establishing high-quality habitat landscape at small and medium scales.
International research on landscape element characteristics, layout design and
maintenance provides a theoretical underpinning for the construction of butterfly
ecological landscape. Through case studies of the UK and the US, the research
scrutinizes the construction methods and conservation measures of the two
nations for butterfly habitat. The UK, emphasizing landscape reforestation,
employs habitat construction methods such as scrapes, seeding, plug-planting,
and butterfly bank. The US, particularly in the conservation of the Monarch
butterflies, implements universal butterfly conservation education. Comparative
analysis reveals substantial differences in landscape types, user groups, and
functional requirements among Chinese cities and cities in developed countries.
Based on China’s national conditions, the research explores the path of"species
selection – site selection – elements matching – landscape management –
science popularization" for constructing butterfly ecological landscape. Taking
the southern Jiangsu region as an example, the research develops the
application models of ecological landscape for Papilioninae and Satyrinae
butterflies. Landscape elements catering to Papilioninae spp. such as Papilio
bianor with Rutaceae plants as host and Sericinus montelus with
Aristolochiaceae plants as host, comprise open sunny spaces, honey source
plants, host plants, shoals, and gravel roads, suitable for deployment in open
activity areas of public green spaces. Landscape elements for Satyrinae spp.
such as Lethe syrcis with Poaceae bamboos as host and Ypthima baldus with
grasses as host, encompass bamboo forests, gravel roads, stones, deciduous
layers, and honey plants, suitable for residential green spaces, country parks,
and urban forests.
[Conclusion] China’s expansive territory and ecological diversity yield varying
natural conditions and butterfly species nationwide, necessitating diverse
butterfly ecological landscapes. Nevertheless, there are commonalities in
function, structure, and elements in butterfly ecological landscapes. In view of
this, establishing a landscape model may help mitigate technical and
knowledge barriers and facilitate broader application. The research proposes
that future efforts should focus on refining the theoretical foundation, practical
implementation, public management policies, and public cooperation to
formulate a comprehensive urban butterfly and habitat conservation strategy.
Moreover, the research also identifies current challenges and future research
directions, such as the limited role of small and medium-sized ecological
landscapes in biodiversity conservation, the difficulty in establishing stable
populations of target butterfly species in artificial habitats, and the interaction
between human and wildlife in urban landscape.