Changes in butterfly diversity in three reforested areas in Spain

Changes in butterfly diversity induced by reforestation were detected at three areas in central Spain with autochthonous forests and adjacent pine reforestations. The natural areas were pyrenean oak (Quercus pyrenaica) and holm oak (Q. ilex) forests, and the reforested areas were, respectively, stone pine (Pinus pinea), cluster pine (P. pinaster) and scots pine (P. sylvestris), and subject to different forestry management regimes. Reforestation with alien species causes a decrease in the number of butterfly specimens, the number of species, and the diversity index. These losses are minimal when the management of reforestations allows the recovery of undergrowth.