Realm: Terrestrial
Climate: Temperate
Biome: Multiple
Central latitude: 53.683443
Central longitude: -3.157846
Duration: 23 years, from 1993 to 2015

19735 records

47 distinct species

Across the time series Pieris napi is the most frequently occurring species

Methods

A fixed transect route is set up at each site following the instructions in Hall (1981), and is strictly followed on each sampling occasion. The route is selected so as to be reasonably representative of the ECN site and will often follow existing paths or boundaries and include areas under different management regimes. If necessary, the route should be marked out to ensure that the same route is followed on each occasion. The length of the transect will depend on local conditions but should be capable of being walked at a comfortable, even pace in 30-90 minutes and will therefore usually be 1-2 km. The transect should be divided into a maximum of 15 sections, which may be of different vegetation, structure, or management and which are used as sampling strata. The length of each section is recorded on a map, together with information on habitat types and abundant plants, especially butterfly food plants. Management operations in the vicinity of the transect are also recorded. Changes in these characteristics are noted, so as to assist in interpretation of results. Recording of the transect takes place weekly between 1 April and 29 September, between 10.45 and 15.45 BST. The temperature should be 13-17°C if sunshine is at least 60%, but if the temperature is above 17°C recording can be carried out in any conditions, providing that it is not raining. At northern, upland sites the appropriate upper temperature is 15°C. The use of more than one recorder would make recording easier at the peak of the season when high numbers of different species occur, or to provide cover for an absent recorder. Transects should be walked by someone with a good knowledge of the British butterfly fauna. The transect is walked at an even pace and the number of butterflies which are seen flying within or passing through an imaginary box, 5 m wide, 5 m high, and 5 m in front of the observer, are recorded by species for each section of the transect, using the forms provided. Start time is recorded, as are the temperature, percentage sun and wind speed at the completion of the transect. Percentage sunshine is also recorded section by section as the transect progresses. The national Butterfly Monitoring Scheme methodology was used (UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, 2019).

Citation(s)

@Article{BioTIME_cit358, Study_id = {596}, Citation_id = {358}, Author = {Rennie, Susannah and Andrews, Chris and Atkinson, Sarah and Beaumont, Deborah and Benham, Sue and Bowmaker, Vic and Dick, Jan and Dodd, Bev and McKenna, Colm and Pallett, Denise and Rose, Rob and Sch{\"a}fer, Stefanie M. and Scott, Tony and Taylor, Carol and Watson, Helen}, Journal = {Earth System Science Data}, Pages = {87-107}, Title = {The UK Environmental Change Network datasets – integrated and co-located data for long-term environmental research (1993–2015)}, Volume = {12}, Year = {2020}, Doi = {10.5194/essd-12-87-2020}, Language = {English} }<br/>@Dataset{BioTIME_cit359, Study_id = {596}, Citation_id = {359}, Author = {Rennie, S. and Adamson, J. and Anderson, R. and Andrews, C. and Bater, J. and Bayfield, N. and Beaton, K. and Beaumont, D. and Benham, S. and Bowmaker, V. and Britt, C. and Brooker, R. and Brooks, D. and Brunt, J. and Common, G. and Cooper, R. and Corbett, S. and Critchley, N. and Dennis, P. and Dick, J. and Dodd, B. and Dodd, N. and Donovan, N. and Easter, J. and Flexen, M. and Gardiner, A. and Hamilton, D. and Hargreaves, P. and Hatton-Ellis, M. and Howe, M. and Kahl, J. and Lane, M. and Langan, S. and Lloyd, D. and McCarney, B. and McElarney, Y. and McKenna, C. and McMillan, S. and Milne, F. and Milne, L. and Morecroft, M. and Murphy, M. and Nelson, A. and Nicholson, H. and Pallett, D. and Parry, D. and Pearce, I. and Pozsgai, G. and Rose, R. and Schafer, S. and Scott, T. and Sherrin, L. and Shortall, C. and Smith, R. and Smith, P. and Tait, R. and Taylor, C. and Taylor, M. and Thurlow, M. and Tilbury, C. and Turner, A. and Tyson, K. and Watson, H. and Whittaker, M. and Wood, C.}, Publisher = {NERC Environmental Information Data Centre}, Title = {UK Environmental Change Network (ECN) butterfly data: 1993-2015}, Year = {2017}, Doi = {10.5285/5aeda581-b4f2-4e51-b1a6-890b6b3403a3}, Url = {doi.org/10.5285/5aeda581-b4f2-4e51-b1a6-890b6b3403a3}, Language = {English} }