Abstract: From May to October 2011, an investigation was made on the butterfly diversity in the artificial secondary forest, artificial grassland, nursery land, waste grassland, cropland, and natural secondary forest in Liangjiang New District of Chongqing City, Southwest China. A total of 1547 butterflies were collected, belonging to 37 species, 27 genera, and 6 families, among which, Pieris rapae, Pieris canidia, Pseudozizeeria maha, and Tongeia filicaudis were the dominant species. The butterfly diversity index varied obviously along a gradient of urbanization, i.e., the higher level the urbanization, the lower the butterfly diversity index. Habitat type and human disturbance had remarkable effects on the butterfly diversity, and the latter could be used as an effective indicator of habitat quality and environmental change. It was suggested that in rapid urbanization area, different measures should be taken to conserve and enhance the biodiversity, based on the urbanization level and habitat type.

Key words: Acaulospora spinosa, lycopene, gene expression, growth promotion.