Comparison of trends in butterfly populations between monitoring schemes

摘要: Butterflies are an important indicator of the impacts environmental change. Butterfly monitoring schemes (BMS) have provided national and Europe-wide trends in their abundance been widely used for research. Most sample sites that self-selected by contributors therefore tend to cover locations rich butterflies. To provide a more representative assessment butterfly populations, wider countryside survey (WCBS) was developed with stratified-random across UK. We compare from WCBS against those measured traditional transects which typically located areas good quality semi-natural habitats. Across 26 species analysed, there significant positive relationship between two 2009 2013, period when both were operating fully. There tendency (17 out analysed) these changes be greater within compared BMS transects, although this effect not consistent comparisons pairs consecutive years. When assessing individual year-to-year changes, however correlation all cases. Over relatively short time periods, weather patterns likely dominate population fluctuations lead comparable schemes. longer differences land management may affect habitat condition differently protected versus it is maintain comprehensive programmes detect interpret such effects.