Kim Hy Proposed Nature Reserve - Frontier-publications.co.uk

diores (Amathusiidae) and Rohana tonkiniana (Nymphalidae). It is difficult to speculate
over the implications of these figures, however, as more substantial numbers of species
identified would provide more informed discussion regarding the general habitat
preferences of the different families. Some preliminary findings here follow general
patterns found in other surveys (Furey et al, 2002; Hill, 1999); for example, Nymphalidae
and Pieridae had a similar number of species found in scrub and forested areas,
Lycaenids were somewhat more abundant in open areas and forest clearings, and all
species of Amathusiids were found in the shade of the forest canopy in low densities,
which is a typical (although not universal) trait of this family (Hill, 1999). Other species
generally associated with forest cover identified from Kim Hy include the Satyrid
Melanitis phedima and the Papilionid Atrophaneura aidoneus, but there are likely to be
several others.
Overall, however, most families were represented by fairly equal numbers (of both
specimens caught and species identified) in scrub and forest habitats, which is in some
conflict with other studies of Vietnam’s butterfly fauna (e.g. Spitzer, 1993, Osborn et al,
2000), which tends to suggest that forested areas are dominated by fewer species of
butterfly, with more diversity to be found in areas of grassland, scrub, shrub and forest
edge or clearing. It is possible that, as Frontier’s survey effort was concentrated within
the limestone forest area, proportionally more of these species were recorded, whilst
more survey time spent in the more open habitats in the future may account for a number
of species that went unrecorded here. However, the body of information examined in
this case is insufficient to draw any firm conclusions regarding habitat distribution.
4.1.4.4 Species of conservation interest
None of the species recorded at Kim Hy by Frontier are currently regarded as being of
national or international conservation concern, and many of the species recorded are
common. However, five of the species have a relatively restricted range (see Appendix
3), and others may be restricted to forest habitats, the absence of forest corridors
inhibiting their dispersal.
4.1.5 Conclusions
The Frontier-Vietnam survey of Kim Hy proposed Nature Reserve should be considered
preliminary only, but provides an insight into the diversity of species dwelling both in the
limestone forest and in more open areas. With further surveys conducted in the future, the
proposed Nature Reserve may prove to hold a similar diversity to other limestone-based
areas which include a variety of habitats in northern Vietnam. Although similar levels of
species richness were recorded for both scrub and forest habitats, it is the latter which is
the most important from a conservation standpoint, as it is those species exhibiting forestspecificity
that will be least adjustable to any habitat disturbance or degradation that may
take place in the future, including that of open basins within the limestone forest area.
Frontier Vietnam Forest Research Programme Technical Report No.24. 45