Data and code for: Population dynamics of butterflies in rural‒urban ecosystems: A case study at Assam down town University in the northeastern region of India

Butterflies serve as valuable bioindicators for assessing ecosystem health due to their sensitivity to habitat changes, rapid life cycles, and extensive mobility. University campuses are increasingly acknowledged as important refuges for butterfly populations, yet their role in supporting butterfly diversity and conservation remains understudied. The Assam down town University campus, situated in the biodiverse northeastern region of India, holds significant biogeographic importance for faunal studies. However, despite its ecological relevance, the diversity and spatial distribution of butterflies across its scenic and roadside habitats remain unexplored to date.We assessed butterfly species richness, assemblage composition, and diversity through structured sampling using the purposive point count method across different seasons. Despite the small size of the study area, a total of 2295 individual butterflies belonging to 101 species representing all six families were recorded from August 2023 to July 2024, with Nymphalidae and Riodinidae emerging as the most and least dominant families in terms of species and individuals. Butterfly distribution was uneven in both habitats, showing greater abundance, species richness, and diversity during the dry season. Among the recorded species, two were listed on the IUCN Red List, while six were classified as threatened under Schedules I, II, and IV of India's Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. This study provides the first comprehensive documentation of butterfly diversity in rural-urban habitats around university campuses, revealing striking seasonal variations and notable species richness in the region. Our findings indicate that tropical and subtropical university campuses can function as biodiversity refugia in urban settings through the maintenance of green spaces, cultivation of native flora, preservation of air quality, and adoption of organic management practices.