Butterfly monitoring in Europe: methods, applications and perspectives

Author
van Swaay Chris A. M.
Nowicki Piotr
Settele Josef
van Strien Arco J.
Keywords
Abstract

Since the first Butterfly Monitoring Scheme in the UK started in the mid-1970s, butterfly monitoring in Europe has developed in more than ten European countries. These schemes are aimed to assess regional and national trends in butterfly abundance per species. We discuss strengths and weaknesses of methods used in these schemes and give examples of applications of the data. A new development is to establish supra-national trends per species and multispecies indicators. Such indicators enable to report against the target to halt biodiversity loss by 2010. Our preliminary European Grassland Butterfly Indicator shows a decline of 50% between 1990 and 2005. We expect to develop a Grassland Butterfly Indicator with an improved coverage across European countries. We see also good perspectives to develop a supra-national indicator for climate change as well as an indicator for woodland butterflies.

Year of Publication
2008
Journal
Biodiversity and Conservation
Volume
17
Issue
14
Number of Pages
3455-3469
Date Published
2008/12/01
ISBN Number
0960-3115, 1572-9710
URL
Short Title
Biodivers Conserv
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