Effects of urbanization on species richness and diversity of moth assemblages: a case study in the Havana area, Cuba

Funding: UBFC Excellence Initiative Project ISITE-BFC

Supervisors: Marie-Jeanne Perrot-Minnot (UBFC) and Alejandro Barro Cañamero (Universidad de La Habana)

Started in november 2021

Abstract

As cities continue to expand in both population and size, it is becoming increasingly important to understand the functioning of the urban ecosystem and its ability to harbor biodiversity. Moths’ assemblages are quickly to respond to anthropogenic disturbances, changes in vegetation and ecological succession processes. Moreover, urbanization appears to have an overall negative effect in their diversity as well as in their pollinating function. However, the information existing is scarce, especially in tropical regions. In Cuba, Havana is the largest and fastest growing city and there is very little data about the ecology of the Lepidoptera that inhabits it. Therefore, the goals of this project are to characterize the structure and composition of the moths’ assemblage of Havana, to determine the biotic and abiotic factors that most influence its diversity and to evaluate how the degree of urbanization influences the pollen transport carried out by moths in Havana. For that purpose, we will carry out samplings during the wet seasons of 2022 and 2023 in different areas of the city using a light trap to capture the moths. We will collect pollen samples from their mouth parts, and we will survey the plant community on each site. We will also measure light intensity, temperature, relative humidity and wind velocity on site. In addition, with the use of Geographic Information System we will calculate the building coverage percentage as a proxy for urbanization.

Keywords

urban ecology ; insects ; Lepidoptera

Thesis advisory panel

François Bretagnolle (UBFC)
Rayner Núñez (Research Museum Alexander Koenig)

extrait:

lien_externe:

titre:

Effects of urbanization on species richness and diversity of moth assemblages: a case study in the Havana area, Cuba

date_de_debut_these:

novembre 2021

nom:

Loiz Leiva

date_de_debut_these_numerique:

202111

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kc_raw_content:

Effects of urbanization on species richness and diversity of moth assemblages: a case study in the Havana area, Cuba

Funding: UBFC Excellence Initiative Project ISITE-BFC

Supervisors: Marie-Jeanne Perrot-Minnot (UBFC) and Alejandro Barro Cañamero (Universidad de La Habana)

Started in november 2021

 

Abstract

As cities continue to expand in both population and size, it is becoming increasingly important to understand the functioning of the urban ecosystem and its ability to harbor biodiversity. Moths’ assemblages are quickly to respond to anthropogenic disturbances, changes in vegetation and ecological succession processes. Moreover, urbanization appears to have an overall negative effect in their diversity as well as in their pollinating function. However, the information existing is scarce, especially in tropical regions. In Cuba, Havana is the largest and fastest growing city and there is very little data about the ecology of the Lepidoptera that inhabits it. Therefore, the goals of this project are to characterize the structure and composition of the moths’ assemblage of Havana, to determine the biotic and abiotic factors that most influence its diversity and to evaluate how the degree of urbanization influences the pollen transport carried out by moths in Havana. For that purpose, we will carry out samplings during the wet seasons of 2022 and 2023 in different areas of the city using a light trap to capture the moths. We will collect pollen samples from their mouth parts, and we will survey the plant community on each site. We will also measure light intensity, temperature, relative humidity and wind velocity on site. In addition, with the use of Geographic Information System we will calculate the building coverage percentage as a proxy for urbanization.

 

Keywords

urban ecology ; insects ; Lepidoptera

 

Thesis advisory panel

François Bretagnolle (UBFC)
Rayner Núñez (Research Museum Alexander Koenig)