Alien species revises systematic status: integrative species delimitation of two similar taxa of Symbrenthia Hubner, [1819] (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

Introduction of organisms to new range may impose detrimental effects on local organisms, especially when closely related species are involved. Species delimitation employing an integrative taxonomy approach may provide a quick assessment for the species status between taxa of interest, and to infer ecological competition and/or introgression that may be associated with the introduction. A nymphalid butterfly, Symbrenthia lilaea lunica, was recently introduced to Taiwan, where a closely related local taxon, S. l. formosanus, can be found. We employed multiple species delimitation methods to study the species status between the two taxa, and the results revealed that they can be recognized as two distinct species, revised to S. l. lilaea (syn. nov.) and S. formosanus (stat. rev.) respectively. We further performed a niche modeling approach to investigate the ecological interaction between the two species. The taxonomic status of the two taxa, now elevated to species, has been revised and conservation facing rapid expansion of the introduced species discussed.

Automated summary

This study employed multiple species delimitation methods to study the taxonomic status between two butterfly species, S. l. lilaea and S. formosanus, in Taiwan. It also investigated the ecological interaction between the two species using niche modeling. The results revealed that they can be recognized as two distinct species, and the conservation issues related to the rapid expansion of the introduced species were discussed.