Understanding the ecological impacts of human disturbances is essential for the formulation of conservation strategies. This study aimed to investigate if unpaved trails (with about 5 to 6 m wide) inside forests can cause ecological changes in their surroundings. The studied group was the fruit-feeding butterflies, since they usually respond to habitat disturbances through changes in species composition. This group is also known to present a distinct distribution along a vertical gradient in tropical forests. However, in open areas, some canopy species are observed reaching the ground. Based on that, we address the following hypotheses: (1) trails inside the forest cause a disruption in the vertical stratification pattern of fruit-feeding butterfly assemblages, and (2) trails modify their community parameters. The study was carried out in a protected area in the Atlantic Forest. Butterflies were sampled monthly through 2 years with bait traps distributed in the canopy and the understory in two habitat types: (1) forest interior, and (2) edges parallel to a trail opening. Our results showed that the understory edge had a greater abundance of individuals and lower species richness when compared to the forest interior. However, the trails did not disrupt the vertical stratification pattern or modify the species composition of fruit-feeding butterflies. Therefore, their effect was not as strong as other types of human disturbances. The present results suggest trails inside forests presented a relatively low impact in the adjacent biological communities, preserving the habitat for several forest organisms and maintaining the vertical structure of biological communities along them.

中文翻译：

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森林足迹对热带蝴蝶群落结构的影响

了解人类干扰的生态影响对于制定保护策略至关重要。本研究旨在调查森林内未铺砌的小径（约 5 至 6 m 宽）是否会导致其周围环境发生生态变化。研究组是吃水果的蝴蝶，因为它们通常通过物种组成的变化来应对栖息地的干扰。众所周知，这个群体在热带森林中沿着垂直梯度呈现出独特的分布。然而，在开放区域，观察到一些树冠物种到达地面。基于此，我们提出以下假设：(1) 森林内的小径会破坏以果实为食的蝴蝶组合的垂直分层模式，(2) 小径会改变它们的群落参数。该研究是在大西洋森林的一个保护区进行的。在 2 年内每月对蝴蝶进行采样，诱饵陷阱分布在树冠和林下两种栖息地类型：(1) 森林内部，和 (2) 平行于小径开口的边缘。我们的结果表明，与森林内部相比，林下边缘的个体数量更多，物种丰富度更低。然而，这些小径并没有破坏垂直分层模式或改变以水果为食的蝴蝶的物种组成。因此，它们的影响不如其他类型的人为干扰强。目前的结果表明，森林内的小径对相邻生物群落的影响相对较小，