Butterflies as Bio‑indicators

Daytime butterflies serve as bio-indicators at Ramat Hanadiv, in the monitoring of changes that result from management activities carried out on site, both in the past and at present.
Research also places emphasis on in-depth monitoring of all of the plants that serve as hosts for daytime butterfly larvae, and nectar flowers that provide adult butterflies with nourishment as they blossom.
Many studies have proven daytime butterflies to be successful bio-indicators, so that one may assume that a positive influence of management activities on them will reflect a positive influence on the entire ecological system.

Like most studies conducted at Ramat Hanadiv, this study too serves as a basis for education and guidance. We are presently working on publishing an illustrated binder that will document all of the butterflies of Ramat Hanadiv, handiwork of the artist Tuvia Kurtz.

Racheli Schwartz-Tzachor