Effect of climate change on butterfly population of selected coniferous forests of Murree Hills and adjacent areas,Pakistan

Climatic changes occurring worldwide are a great threat to biodiversity and species richness of many groups of organisms thus affecting agriculture and food security. present study deals with the butterfly populations of the coniferous forests of murree hills and adjacent areas of pakistan. inter comparisons have also been made of the current datasets with the previous archives. with a relatively short life-cycle and host-plant reliance,butterfly communities show quick response to climate change. the moist himalayan temperate forests of murree hills and adjoining areas are home to many exotic species of butterflies. the weather records of the previous two decades have shown reduction in precipitation and an increase in temperature and extreme weather events. in this short span of time 14 species of butterflies have disappeared from the study area. the study shows that the remaining species are threatened due to introduction of invasive species new to this area and increased predator population. in total 46 species with shannon index of 1.3 were recorded in the present study. one species has been recorded for the first time copyright 2016 zoological society of pakistan.