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WILLMOTT: Book Review
TROP. LEPID. RES., 19(1):60, 2009
BOOK REVIEW Mariposas de Canandé. Sus Amenazas, Potencial y Futuro. [The Butterflies of Canandé. Their Threats, Potential and Future.] 2008. Checa V., M. F. Tramaediciones, Quito, Ecuador. 72 pp (incl. 39 piales). In Spanish. 9X9 inches, hard cover, $18. available from mfcheca@ufl.edu.
Conservation biology is one of the most poorly studied aspects of tropical butterflies, especially those of the "megadiverse" countries of the tropical Andes. While conservationists in the USA and Europe focus on refined concepts such as preserving individual populations of threatened species, most neotropical butterflies have never even been assessed for threat status, let alone subject to targeted conservation efforts. Lack of knowledge of distribution, the typical absence of information on key aspects of natural history, and poor data on principal threats, make the idea of species-specific conservation efforts in the tropical Andes seem a distant goal. Mariposas de Canandé takes a significan! step towards improving knowledge of all three of these aspects for the butterflies of one of the neotropical áreas with highest levéis of species endemism and habitat loss, the wet lowland forests of northwestern Ecuador. Mariposas de Canandé is the result of a year-long research project by the book's author on the butterflies of the Río Canandé Reserve, established by the Fundación Jocotoco, in Esmeraldas province. The book has two distinct themes that are rarely found together: a detailed review of habitat threats and the economic situation of inhabitants in the región, and a photographic guide to specific groups of butterflies found in the reserve. The book begins with 6 chapters spread over 24 pages of text, that start with a brief review of butterfly biology, including life history, adult morphology, wing pattern signaling, scientific nomenclature, and the ecological role of forest butterflies. Section 2 considers the geographic location and significance of the Canandé reserve, placed as it is at a crossroads between the extremely wet Chocó región to the north, and the west Ecuadorian moist forests to the south, both zones of notable endemism. With Section 3 begins a critical examination of the factors affecting natural habitáis in western Ecuador, who benefits economically from such activities, and how natural resources might provide a more sustainable and equitable alternative, with a focus on butterflies in particular. The severe, negative impacts of timber extraction, African palm cultivation and eucalyptus plantations are all discussed. So, who benefited from the exploitation of natural resources in Canandé? Esmeraldas remains one of the poorest provinces in Ecuador, with 98.4% of the profits from timber extraction going to the timber-companies, while other authors have accused companies of using positions of public office to influence their own interests. The iniquitous distribution of income from harvesting natural resources has not only failed to improve the living conditions of local inhabitants, but has apparently been positively deleterious, with both medical and social impacts. The following two sections discuss the consequences of deforestation, including the loss of biodiversity, impact on water and carbón cycling, and the loss of potentially economically viable producís. Butterflies are presenled as a polenlial means for generaling a suslainable income for residenls of Esmeraldas near nalural habilals. A Ihorough review of Ihe role and economic significance of bullerflies in biocommerce is presenled, including Iheir use in exhibilions (butterfly houses), in art, and as specimens for collections. The role thal Ealin American counlries and Ecuador play in Ihis inlernalional markel is also discussed. Finally, Checa examines Ihe polenlial for Irade in butterflies lo help
conserve nalural habilals. Checa makes Ihe key poinl Ihal for múltiple rearing operalions lo be successful, butterfly farms musí concenlrale on species of primary forest Such species are lypically poorly representad as well as being Ihe mosl highly endemic - for a butterfly farm lo compete with others il musí provide somelhing unique. The aulhor Ihen provides a frank discussion of Ihe impací of butterfly collecting on nalural populations. While Ihis is an emotive lopic and ¡Ilegal collecting of specimens for Irade is oflen viewed as a serious problem for conservation, Checa refreshingly presente Ihe viewpoinl of virtually any scienlisl who has sludied tropical insects in Ihis región Ihal Ihere is absolulely no evidence Ihal colleclion of specimens for science, educalion, recreation, or commerce has an effect on Ihe vasl majorily of nalural populations. The polential valué of butterflies to ecotourism, lo environmenial educalion and in Ihe produclion of art is discussed, and Ihe major limilations to the developmenl of Ihis polential are considered. In particular, the need for simpler melhods lo provide permite for scientific research is stressed. The literalure ciled is richly varied, ranging from websiles lo short, obscure bul importanl publicalions, from books lo Journal papers, and provides a fascinaling compendium of information sources. Checa has clearly Ihoroughly researched her subjecl, and her passion for conservation and her oulrage al Ihe misuse of nalural resources and power in Ecuador bolh shine inlensely throughout the book's introduclory chaplers. The second seclion of Ihe book is a photographic guide lo Ihe nymphalid butterflies Ihal Checa recorded during a year survey al Ihe reserve, using Iraps bailed wilh rolling camón. The figures are of excellenl qualily, and show upper- and underside of 122 species of Morphinae (including brassolines), Salyrinae, Charaxinae, Cyreslinae (Marpesia), Biblidinae, Apalurinae, Nymphalinae, Eimenilidinae (Adelpha), and Heliconiinae. Virtually all specimens figured are males, mainly because il is Ihis sex Ihal lypically feeds on carrion bails, and a high diversily of species in Ihe groups covered are included, a teslamenl lo Ihe inlensily of sampling. Checa surveyed Ihe reserve for a week every monlh of the year, and Ihus was able lo record a number of exlremely rare species, such as Opsiphanes zelotes, known formerly only from Panamá and Colombia, and recenlly discovered in Cosía Rica. Among Adelpha, A. hesterbergi was formerly known only from two siles, one in Ecuador and one in Cosía Rica, and Ihis record represents an important range extensión. These records, and a number of others, will be discussed in more detail in a paper in preparalion by Checa. As a guide lo Ihe nymphalid species of Canandé, Ihis is a valuable resource. As a permanenl record of some of Ihe mosl speclacular and rare butterflies of a vanishing habilal, il should be an inspiralion lo scienlists, politicians and Ihe
public alike.
Keith R. Wíllmott
McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity Florida Museum of Natural History