Butterflies and moths can function as ecological indicators.....

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https://www.conservationevidence.com/synopsis/pdf/37

Dr Ioana Grozea thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Butterflies and moths serve a crucial ecological role as pollinators. As they visit flowers for nectar, they facilitate the transfer of pollen, contributing to plant reproduction and maintaining biodiversity. Additionally, their caterpillars often serve as a food source for various animals, further connecting different trophic levels in the ecosystem.

Human activities can interrupt the nutrient cycle in several ways. Deforestation, for example, disrupts the natural habitats of butterflies and moths, affecting their life cycles and potentially leading to population declines. Pesticide use in agriculture poses a threat by harming these insects directly or reducing the abundance of their larval host plants. Such disruptions can have cascading effects on the ecosystem, affecting pollination, food availability for other species, and overall ecological balance. Sustainable practices are crucial to mitigate these impacts and preserve the intricate web of interactions in the environment.

For example in Vidarbha Krishna Peacock Butterfly, play a vital ecological role by pollinating native flowers. Their interactions with plant species like the Wild Indigo contribute to the region's biodiversity. Unfortunately, human activities, like extensive agriculture, can interrupt this delicate balance. Pesticide use on crops may inadvertently harm these pollinators, affecting not only their populations but also disrupting the pollination of essential plants.

Moreover, deforestation in Vidarbha can lead to habitat loss for caterpillars, hindering their life cycle and reducing the availability of host plants. These disruptions have a domino effect on the ecosystem, impacting other species that rely on these insects for food or contribute to pollination. Striking a balance between human activities and conservation efforts is crucial to preserving the rich ecological interactions in Vidarbha's environment.

Dr Ramzan Virani thank you for your contribution to the discussion

My answer to your first question is pallinators and the second one is biodiversity loss.

Butterflies and moths play crucial ecological roles as pollinators, helping in the reproduction of many plant species. Additionally, their larvae contribute to nutrient cycling by feeding on plant material and decomposing organic matter. However, anthropogenic activities such as habitat destruction, pesticide use, and climate change can disrupt these roles. Habitat loss reduces the availability of suitable breeding and foraging grounds, while pesticides can directly harm butterfly and moth populations. Climate change affects their habitats and migration patterns. These disruptions can lead to declines in butterfly and moth populations, ultimately impacting nutrient cycling and ecosystem health.

Dr Abhirup Saha thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Butterflies contribute to nutrient cycling and play a role in pest control. Their decline can disrupt these ecological processes, leading to imbalances within ecosystems. Beyond their ecological significance, butterflies hold cultural and aesthetic value. Moths and butterflies are an important element of the food chain and are prey for birds, bats and other insectivorous animals. When they do this their bodies collect pollen and carry it to other plants. This helps fruits, vegetables and flowers to produce new seeds. The majority of plants need pollinators like bees and butterflies to reproduce. Butterflies are of very little economic importance as very few of them can be classified as pests injurious to useful plants. However, they are of great value in the fertilization of plants. Moths are sometimes mistaken for butterflies. One of the most significant ways that human activities affect nutrient cycling is through the use of fertilizers in agriculture. While fertilizers can increase crop yields, they can also lead to nutrient imbalances and pollution of waterways. Fire, harvesting, storms, pests or disease can all affect the nutrient cycle processes. Often, these disturbances are natural and important to the forest ecosystem as some nutrients are added or lost which can have a positive or negative impact. Fire, harvesting, storms, pests or disease can all affect the nutrient cycle processes. Often, these disturbances are natural and important to the forest ecosystem as some nutrients are added or lost which can have a positive or negative impact.