DOI: 10.5061/dryad.vx0k6djsn
title: Data from: Environmental variation associated with topography explains butterfly diversity along a tropical elevation gradient

description: Few studies have evaluated the role of topography on the diversity
 patterns of biological communities along elevation gradients. We evaluated
 the influence of microclimate and vegetation structure associated with
 topographic variation on the richness and composition of species of
 different families of butterflies on a mountain located in a dry enclave
 (Chicamocha River Canyon) in the northern Andes, Colombia. We captured
 butterflies over four months at 18 elevations (300 to 1500 m a.s.l.) in
 two topographic positions (riverbed and hillslope) using an entomological
 net and traps baited with fermented fruit. In general, butterfly richness
 increased with elevation in both topographic positions. However, the
 richness-elevation relationship changed with butterfly family. The
 riverbed and hillslope sites host different assemblages of butterflies,
 and this pattern that was consistent for most families. In the riverbed,
 two sets of species are recognized along the elevation gradient (one below
 700 m a.s.l. and the other above 1000 m a.s.l.), mainly owing to species
 replacement. On the hillslopes there was no clear pattern of grouping
 associated with elevation. Microclimate differences between the riverbed
 and hillslope sites along the elevation gradient were related to the
 vegetation structure and explained the variation in butterfly species
 composition. Our results highlight the role of topography not only by
 explaining the response of species richness and composition to
 environmental variation determined by elevation, but also as a factor that
 must be considered in the planning and management of biodiversity
 conservation in the mountains.
description: <strong>Full_species_list_butterflies_diversity_Andes_Colombia</strong> Full species list and abundances from the publication Cómbita et al. 2021. Environmental variation associated with topography explains butterfly diversity along a tropical elevation gradient. <strong>glm_boxplot.csv</strong> Topographic position (T), elevation, abundance, and species richness data per family by sample stations (SS) from the publication Cómbita et al. 2021. Environmental variation associated with topography explains butterfly diversity along a tropical elevation gradient. <strong>beta_RB.csv</strong> Riverbed species composition matrix, from the publication Cómbita et al. 2021. Environmental variation associated with topography explains butterfly diversity along a tropical elevation gradient. <strong>beta_HS.csv</strong> Hillslope species composition matrix, from the publication Cómbita et al. 2021. Environmental variation associated with topography explains butterfly diversity along a tropical elevation gradient. <strong>beta_total.csv</strong> Total species composition matrix, from the publication Cómbita et al. 2021. Environmental variation associated with topography explains butterfly diversity along a tropical elevation gradient. <strong>INEXT.csv</strong> Butterfly community data (253 ssp), from the publication Cómbita et al. 2021. Environmental variation associated with topography explains butterfly diversity along a tropical elevation gradient. <strong>INEXT_Fam.csv</strong> Butterfly species by family data, from the publication Cómbita et al. 2021. Environmental variation associated with topography explains butterfly diversity along a tropical elevation gradient. <strong>environmental.csv</strong> Environmental variables data: topographic position (T), maximum temperature (Tmax), minimum temperature (Tmin), relative humidity (Rh), elevation (E), vegetation coverage (VC), plant richness (PR), basal area (BA), and vegetation height (VH) by sample station, from the publication Cómbita et al. 2021. Environmental variation associated with topography explains butterfly diversity along a tropical elevation gradient. <strong>Temperature.csv</strong> Temperature data (mean, maximum, minimum), elevation by topographic position (RB = riverbed, HS = hillslope), from the publication Cómbita et al. 2021. Environmental variation associated with topography explains butterfly diversity along a tropical elevation gradient.