Skip to content

Nature

Largest ever butterfly map completed

by Colin Ricketts 05 Oct 2011
Largest ever butterfly map completed

A new atlas - the most comprehensive ever published - of European butterfly distribution will be a vital tool in conserving these beautiful and fragile creatures its authors hope. Published by the Society for the Conservation of Butterflies and Moths, the German Nature Conservation Association and the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, the Distribution Atlas of Butterflies maps each of Europe's 441 butterfly species - worldwide there are about 15-20,000 species of butterfly.

Back in 2002, Otakar Kudrna completed his first distribution atlas for butterflies in Europe, the first to trace the numbers of the species over a whole continent. This time, Otakar has been joined by a team of fellow scientists and specialists who have massively expanded on that first work: trebling the number of records used to 655,000 and making use of the latest computer mapping aids. The work of 272 field volunteers, say the publishers, has been vital to this grand new publication project.

This coincidence map shows the distribution and concentration of all European butterfly species (diversity

This coincidence map shows the distribution and concentration of all European butterfly species (diversity "hotspots" in the mountains of Iberian Peninsula, Alps and Balkan Peninsula) Every third butterfly species inhabits 1 percent or less of the territory of Europe. Credit: Distribution Atlas of Butterflies in Europe. GfS, Halle, Germany

The publishers say that the first aim of the atlas is to push the case for and help facilitate conservation efforts to save butterfly species. Kudrna and his team believe that their detailed mapping of species distribution will identify those which are under threat and help advance pan-European efforts to save them across national boundaries.

Insects are very sensitive to http://www.earthtimes.org/encyclopaedia/environmental-issues/climate-change/ and the new atlas hopes to build on the work of the CLIMIT project which is tracing the effects of warming temperatures on insects and examining ways to mitigate any damage.

For example, while butterflies are often associated with the height of summer, the purple bog fritillary likes colder climes and is retreating into Alpine, Balkan and Baltic mountain habitats. It depends on the common bistort for its food and the threat is that warmer temperatures will cause the butterfly and its lifeline to drift apart.

This new atlas will provide a vital tool in measuring how far climate change is moving or threatening butterfly species.

Top Image Credit: The purple bog fritillary (Boloria titania) © Apor


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping