Spatial and typological organization of day moth (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) populations in the southeastern Altai

Long-term field studies of day moth populations in the southeastern Altai s howed that their spatial mosaicity mainly due to thermal factor related to absolute altitudes. Spatial variation of these communities is associated to a lesser degree with humidity, zonality, afforestation and share of cliffs in lanscapes. Changes in population density, species richness, shares of d ominant and background species by belts are analyzed. A classification of d ay moths in the southeastern Altai and classification of species by similar ity of their distribution is proposed.