Anthropogenic Influence on Moth Populations: A Comparative Study in Southern Sweden

Simple Summary This research investigates moth biodiversity in two southern Swedish provinces, Västergötland and Småland, spanning from 1974 to 2019. The moth diversity over these years was evaluated using data collected from literary sources. To augment this dataset, a light trap was installed in each province in 2020. The data demonstrate enhanced diversity in Kalmar, Småland, and a more rapid colonisation rate throughout the study period in Småland compared to Västergötland. Noteworthily, our traps in Västergötland and Småland captured 44% and 28% of the known moth species in these provinces, respectively. We reveal significant associations between the probability of species presence in the traps and specific traits when contrasted with a provincial species pool. Traits disproportionately represented in the traps encompass species with considerable variation in colour patterns, generalist habitat and host plant preferences, extended flight periods, and species that primarily overwinter as eggs. This research underscores the influences of climate change and human activities on the shaping of moth biodiversity. Abstract As moths are vital components of ecosystems and serve as important bioindicators, understanding the dynamics of their communities and the factors influencing these dynamics, such as anthropogenic impacts, is crucial to understand the ecological processes. Our study focuses on two provinces in southern Sweden, Västergötland and Småland, where we used province records from 1974 to 2019 in combination with light traps (in 2020) to record the presence and abundance of moth species, subsequently assessing species traits to determine potential associations with their presence in anthropogenically modified landscapes. This study design provides a unique opportunity to assess temporal changes in moth communities and their responses to shifts in environmental conditions, including anthropogenic impacts. Across the Västergötland and Småland provinces in Sweden, we recorded 776 moth taxa belonging to fourteen different taxonomic families of mainly Macroheterocera. We captured 44% and 28% of the total moth species known from these provinces in our traps in Borås (Västergötland) and Kalmar (Småland), respectively. In 2020, the species richness and abundance were higher in Borås than in Kalmar, while the Shannon and Simpson diversity indices revealed a higher species diversity in Kalmar. Between 1974 and 2019, the colonisation rates of the provinces increased faster in Småland. Ninety-three species were found to have colonised these provinces since 1974, showing that species richness increased over the study period. We reveal significant associations between the probability of a species being present in the traps and distinct traits compared to a provincial species pool. Traits over-represented in the traps included species with a high variation in colour patterns, generalist habitat preferences, extended flight periods, lower host plant specificity, and overwintering primarily as eggs. Our findings underscore the ongoing ecological filtering that favours certain species-specific traits. This study sheds light on the roles of climate change and anthropogenic impacts in shaping moth biodiversity, offers key insights into the ecological processes involved, and can guide future conservation efforts.