Distribution Atlas of Butterflies in Europe: A baseline for the conservation of a core element of biodiversity

The atlas was initiated by Otakar Kudrna and is a result of the joint efforts of a team of authors, led by him. It contains full colour distribution maps of all 441 European butterfly species. Apart from providing comprehensive chorological data for taxonomists and biogeographers, the prime purpose of the Atlas is to aid and promote the conservation of European butterflies. The analysis and evaluation of the distribution data, graphically shown on coincidence maps, facilitates the identification of priorities in selecting species and areas of European significance for conservation purposes from a truly European perspective.

Nine years have elapsed since The Distribution Atlas of European Butterflies appeared back in March 2002, the first distribution atlas of the butterflies of any continent. The present book is more than a new edition. The number of data records has almost trebled to about 655.000 and the distribution maps reflect the progress of computer-aided cartographical techniques.

While the atlas from 2002 was the sole work of Otakar Kudrna, progress in different scientific fields now is reflected in the combination of expertise of different colleagues who comprise the author team of the new atlas.

This publication was funded through the projects STEP, SCALES and CLIMIT as well as several donors: NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland e.V.; Berlin, Germany), Bayerischer Naturschutzfonds (Munich, Germany), Förderverein der Bayerischen Akademie für Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege (ANL; Laufen, Germany), European Interests Group (EIG) of Butterfly Conservation UK (Wareham, UK), De Vlinderstichting (Dutch Butterfly Conservation; Wageningen), and Wissenschaftlicher Verlag & Delta-Druck Peks (Schwanfeld, Germany).

Last but not least is has to be highlighted that the atlas was only possible due to the contributions of 272 volunteers, who provided the basic data.

The atlas is expected to serve as baseline for numerous scientific analyses and publications -- similar to the „Climatic Risk Atlas of European Butterflies," which was published in 2008 and provided a timely assessment of risks due to the present climate change impacts and thus a contribution for the conservation of butterflies.

Publication: Otakar Kudrna, Alexander Harpke, Kristian Lux, Josef Pennerstorfer, Oliver Schweiger, Josef Settele, Martin Wiemers (2011). Distribution Atlas of Butterflies in Europe. GfS, Halle, Germany. 576pp.

Links:

Homepage GfS: http://www.european-butterflies.ufz.de/

Climatic Risk Atlas of European Butterflies: http://pensoftonline.net/biorisk/index.php/journal/article/viewArticle/3

Homepages of the projects CLIMIT, STEP und SCALES: http://www.climit-project.net; http://www.step-project.net; http://www.scales-project.net;