Comparative dynamics and area health model: miscellany of butterflies versus odonates of Dholka, Ahmedabad

Abstract

Far beyond their dazzling colors, butterflies, dragonflies, and damselflies are living barometers of environmental health, whispering the stories of air, water, and habitat quality. In the rapidly growing urban sprawl of Ahmedabad, these delicate fliers serve as irreplaceable sentinels of ecological balance. This study offers a replicable blueprint for assessing “area health” through a fine-scale examination of urban biodiversity, green habitats, and supporting environmental parameters. Our 8 km² focus area, Dholka town, Ahmedabad, is crowned by three tranquil lakes and embraced by a lush pocket forest. Weather records of temperature, humidity, wind speed, visibility, and UV index paint Dholka as a rare refuge of biodiversity within a concrete-dominated landscape. Within its mosaic of habitats, we documented an impressive diversity: 30 butterfly species (Lepidoptera), 9 dragonfly species, and 8 damselfly species (Odonata). Remarkably, this richness flourished on wild plant species often dismissed as weeds, yet here, they proved to be ecological lifelines. Prosopis juliflora (Fabaceae), Alternanthera ficoidea (Amaranthaceae), Lantana camara (Verbenaceae), Dicliptera paniculata (Acanthaceae), and Tephrosia purpurea (Fabaceae) served as vital microhabitats, nurturing countless indicator species. Rigorous water quality analyses further reinforced our holistic health assessment model. This research underscores the hidden power of small green ecosystems, capable of sustaining biodiversity and stabilizing the broader metropolitan environment. We urgently advocate for the inclusion of select butterfly and odonate species in the IUCN conservation list, ensuring their protection before they slip unnoticed toward extinction. In safeguarding these sentinels, we safeguard the very heartbeat of our urban ecosystems.