Lepidoptera Heterocera records in Western Piedmont region (Italy)
Description
We provide raw data concerning occurrence and abundance of nocturnal Lepidoptera and environmetal covariates that describe the sampling sites. The research aimed to investigate the possible effects of the noise disturbance on moth community. Data were collected using light traps and light sheet methods. The sampling was conducted for 16 nights using light traps following the Before/After-Control/Impact approach, and for five nights using light sheet, during two sampling sessions in July 2023. A controlled white noise was reproduced during the field experiment, and soundscape characterisation was carried out throughout the whole sampling. Environmental covariates (Dataset_2) were provided, including coordinates, temperature, humidity, weather conditions, moonlight, and the A-weighted Equivalent continuous sound levels (LAeq) values, that described the soundscape. The presented data include 129 species and 823 individuals recorded (Dataset_1). The light sheet method was used to observe species without capturing them, providing additional species occurrence data (Dataset_3). These comprehensive datasets are valuable for further investigations into the effects of environmental factors, particularly noise, on nocturnal Lepidoptera communities. The dataset presented contributes to the knowledge of moth communities in the northwestern part of Italy. The environmental covariates can inform other studies aiming to investigate possible different community responses across various geographic areas. Specifically, the soundscape and sound pressure level data provide essential baselines for future field experiments that may examine the impact of environmental stressors, such as noise pollution, on Lepidoptera behaviour, distribution, and community dynamics.
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Our study employed a Before/After-Control/Impact approach to analyse the possible effect of acoustic disturbance on nocturnal Lepidoptera communities. We conducted sampling by placing the traps (Compact Skinner Moth Trap with a 20 W actinic lamp) at the same sampling point for two consecutive nights: the first night under silent conditions and the second night with the reproduction of a controlled acoustic disturbance. The experiment was replicated twice in the same month. We used a dodecahedral sound source (Norsonic AS, model Nor276) to generate the acoustic distubance that was reproduced at a Sound Pressure Level of 110 dB, basing on previously studied on acoustic disturbances in mega-project construction sites. Throughout the whole experiment, we characterised the ambient sound using Class I phonometers (Convergence, mod. NSRT_mk4) to measure noise levels and ensure the absence of other disturbance sources. We also recorded temperature and relative humidity using data loggers (iButton mod. DS1923) placed at each sampling point. We employed the light sheet method using an actinic lamp (Maxi LepiLed 13 W) to attract moths placing the sheet in the ecotone habitat between woodland and pasture.