# Full-elevational gradient dataset on moth diversity and abundance in a temperate mountain range

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a comprehensive dataset on moth diversity and abundance collected over nearly a decade in a protected mountain region, useful for studying ecological patterns and management effects.

## Contribution

The paper provides a systematically collected, long-term dataset on moths across a full elevational gradient in a protected temperate mountain range.

## Key findings

- The dataset includes 439 moth species and 64,776 specimens collected from 982 localities over 2012–2021.
- Vegetation, management, and topographical data are included, enabling analysis of ecological and management impacts.
- The dataset supports both basic and applied ecological research in a climate change context.

## Abstract

Climate change is reshaping ecosystems worldwide, yet our ability to quantify its long-term impact across taxa is limited by a lack of reliable and comparable data. Here, we present a systematically collected long-term dataset spanning nearly a decade (2012–2021), documenting the diversity, abundance, and distribution of 439 moth species (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) from the Czech part of the Giant Mountains, a region entirely protected as Krkonoše National Park. Using standardised light traps, we sampled 982 localities across an area of 550 km², yielding a total of 64,776 specimens. Localities are accompanied by in-situ assessments of vegetation characteristics and management regimes, complemented by topographical derivatives and ecosystem information retrieved post-hoc from open spatial data. The dataset provides a valuable resource for investigating spatial and temporal patterns in moth diversity and abundance, as well as for evaluating the effects of different management practices, supporting both basic and applied research.