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Wang Rongjiang's research group at the School of Life Sciences and the Center for Ecological Research of Peking University has published a study on the diversity pattern of butterfly species in China. The team collected 247,248 observational records of 1,920 species of butterflies from 1950 to 2023, and constructed the most comprehensive butterfly distribution database in China to date.

The potential distribution area of each butterfly was predicted by using the ensemble species distribution model and other methods, and the distribution pattern of butterfly species diversity in China was obtained through layer superposition. The findings are in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography.

Insects are the most species-rich group in the animal kingdom and play an important role in ecosystem functions and services. However, current biodiversity research tends to focus on vertebrates and ignore insects as an important group.

In fact, many studies have shown that insect diversity is also greatly threatened, and the lack of insect research, especially on insect distribution, has seriously hindered the development of insect diversity conservation strategies. China is a biodiversity hotspot, making insect diversity research critical for advancing conservation strategies.

Understanding butterfly diversity patterns can fill gaps in biodiversity knowledge, particularly for insects, and inform more effective conservation policies in China. This is especially relevant given the nation's commitment to international biodiversity goals, such as those outlined in the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The study revealed a clear diversity pattern of butterfly species in China, with higher richness in the southeast and lower in the northwest (Fig. 1). Southern China's mountainous areas emerged as biodiversity hotspots for butterflies.

The research team also found that the distribution range of butterfly species included in the List of Wild Animals under National Key Protection is not small. For example, the potential distribution area of the golden-spotted beaked butterfly (a national first-class protected animal) is 717,500 km².

Actual evapotranspiration (AET) was found to be the most significant environmental factor influencing butterfly species richness (Fig. 2).

The research compiled the most comprehensive butterfly distribution database in China. The study highlighted non-traditional protected areas, such as cities and farmlands in southern China, which may be crucial for preserving butterfly diversity.

Based on the distribution pattern, policy makers can delineate targeted conservation priority areas (Fig. 3). The study also highlights the need to reassess China's list of protected butterfly species. For instance, the golden Kaiser-i-Hind butterfly (Teinopalpus aureus), a Class I protected species, was found to have a relatively broad potential distribution, ranking 1120th among the 1,920 species.

Similarly, many Class II protected species showed unexpectedly wide distributions, suggesting that the current protection list lacks a robust scientific basis.

The findings underscore the need to expand protected areas beyond traditional boundaries, incorporating non-traditional habitats that are vital for butterfly diversity. Moreover, the research mapped butterfly conservation priority areas aligned with international biodiversity targets. It found that less than 30% of these priority areas overlap with existing protected zones.

The team also identified urban and agricultural landscapes in southern China as essential areas for butterfly conservation, emphasizing the importance of non-traditional habitats in achieving the 2030 goal of protecting 30% of terrestrial areas.