Monitoring Butterflies for Ecology and Conservation

This study describes the results of a project to monitor British butterflies, based upon frequent counts at 90 sites throughout the UK. It surveys trends in numbers, the extinction and foundation of populations, flight periods, local distribution, migration and other aspects of population ecology. Practical problems encountered during the conservation of butterflies at individual sites are outlined. The relevance of this type of monitoring for an understanding of climatic warming is also described.