CLIMBER: Climatic niche characteristics of the butterflies in Europe

• DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.367.6185
• Publication Date: 2014-01-06T14:13:23Z
• Authors: Oliver Schweiger; Alexander Harpke; Martin Wiemers; Josef Settele
• Keywords: Environmental niche modelling

Detailed information on species' ecological niche characteristics that can be related to declines and extinctions is indispensable for a better understanding of the relationship between occurrence performance wild species their environment and, moreover, an improved assessment impacts global change. Knowledge such as habitat requirements already available in literature butterflies, but about climatic still lacking. Here we present unique dataset 397 European butterflies representing 91% (see Appendix). These were obtained by combining detailed butterfly distributions Europe (which also led 'Distribution Atlas Butterflies Europe') corresponding conditions. The presented comprises position breadth following characteristics: mean annual temperature, range growing degree days, precipitation sum, soil water content. indicated median value each climate variable across range, accompanied 95% confidence interval number grid cells used calculations. Climatic standard deviation minimum maximum values range. Database compilation was based high quality standards data are ready use broad applications. It evident provided this great relevance basic applied ecology. Based temperature index (STI, i.e. per species), community (CTI, average STI community) recently adopted indicator change impact biodiversity pan-European framework supporting Convention Biological Diversity (Streamlining Biodiversity Indicators 2010) has been several scientific publications. application potential database ranges from theoretical aspects assessments past evolution or analyses trait interdependencies very measuring, monitoring projecting historical, ongoing future responses using indicator.