Macgregor, C.J.; Evans, D.M.; Fox, R.; Pocock, M.J.O.

Moth abundance and pollen transport from lit and unlit matched pairs of arable field margins in south-east England

https://doi.org/10.5285/31cc5cec-d33b-4dd6-a932-061ff947e708 Cite this dataset

This dataset contains information about moth abundance and pollen transport at sites lit by high-pressure sodium streetlights and unlit control sites. Moths were sampled at 20 matched pairs of lit and unlit sites within 40 km of Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK (51°35' N, 1°8' W) during 2014, as part of a study of the effects of street lighting on moths and nocturnal pollen transport. Three sampling methods were used: night-time transects, light-traps and overhead flight activity surveys. Moths captured were identified, counted, and sampled for pollen transported on the proboscis, which was in turn identified and counted.

The work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (Grant ID: NE/K007394/1).

Publication date: 2016-04-20

Format

Comma-separated values (CSV)

Spatial information

Study area
Spatial representation type: Tabular (text)
Spatial reference system: OSGB 1936 / British National Grid

Temporal information

Temporal extent: 2014-05-30 to 2014-09-15

Provenance & quality

Matched pairs of lit and unlit sites were identified for sampling using a fixed set of criteria (described in the supporting documentation, and sites within pairs were sampled on the same nights. Data on moth abundance, species richness and pollen transport were recorded in the lab using standardised methods (described in the supporting documentation) from samples collected in the field and stored at -20°C. All identifications of moths and pollen were made by C.J.M., using a range of available literature. Data were transcribed from lab notebooks to a purpose-designed relational database in Microsoft Access, via bespoke forms to support accuracy of data entry; this took place within 48 hours of recording. Following data entry, records were double checked to ensure accidental typing errors were removed. Data were exported into their current format to facilitate statistical analysis.

Citations

Macgregor, C.J., Evans, D.M., & Pocock, M.J.O. (2017). Estimating sampling completeness of interactions in quantitative bipartite ecological networks: incorporating variation in species’ specialisation. https://doi.org/10.1101/195917

Macgregor, C.J., Evans, D.M., Fox, R., & Pocock, M.J.O. (2016). The dark side of street lighting: impacts on moths and evidence for the disruption of nocturnal pollen transport. In Global Change Biology (Vol. 23, Issue 2, pp. 697–707). Wiley https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13371

Correspondence/contact details

Macgregor, C.J.

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford
Wallingford
Oxfordshire
OX10 8BB
UNITED KINGDOM

enquiries@ceh.ac.uk

Authors

Macgregor, C.J.

Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Evans, D.M.

Newcastle University

Fox, R.

Butterfly Conservation

Pocock, M.J.O.

Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4375-0445

Other contacts

Rights holder: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Custodian: NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk
Publisher: NERC Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk

Additional metadata

Topic categories: biota
INSPIRE theme: Environmental Monitoring Facilities
Keywords: Agro-ecosystems , Animal behaviour , animal population , ecosystem services , flowers , lepidopteran , light , light pollution , moths , pollination , population declines , sampling
Funding: Natural Environment Research Council Award: NE/K007394/1
Last updated: 13 February 2024 09:27