Northwestern European arthropod life histories and ecological traits
Citation
Logghe G, Batsleer F, Maes D, Permentier T, Berg M P, Brosens D, Cooleman S, De Smedt P, Hagge J, Lambrechts J, Pollet M, Verheyde F, Bonte D (2025). Northwestern European arthropod life histories and ecological traits. Version 1.1. Ghent University. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/75g5z9 accessed via GBIF.org on 2025-02-08.Description
The Arthropod trait dataset contains data on life histories and ecological traits for more than 4000 northwestern European arthropod species. The data were compiled based on literature sources and expert knowledge. This dataset is published as a standardized Darwin Core Archive and includes for each species (in the Taxon Core) available data on body size, fecundity, development time, mean voltinism, lifespan, dispersal capacity and thermal niche (in the Measurements or Facts Extension), as well as maximum voltinism, overwintering stage, diurnality, feeding guild, trophic range and habitat preferences (in the Description Extension).
We have released this dataset to the public domain under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY-NC) implying that users of data make proper reference to this dataset, and/or refer to the published paper (DOI) describing the data.
Sampling Description
Study Extent
This dataset summarizes life histories, thermal niche and ecological traits for 4874 European arthropod species, aiming to construct a comprehensive dataset that could be incorporated in predictive models. With this dataset, we aim to facilitate the implementation of biological mechanisms in predictive models focused on arthropods, thereby enhancing our ability to forecast the impact of global change on these animals.Sampling
An extensive search for literature sources that describe life histories and/or ecological traits of ten different arthropod orders was conducted. The data were compiled in separate Excel sheets for each order. Later, this information was merged into a single dataset. 83 different literature sources were consulted, including scientific papers, books and websites. In the next step, several experts in certain taxonomic groups contributed personal data, measurements or expert judgements on their specific taxa to address noticeable gaps in the dataset. Additionally, realised thermal niche was estimated by overlaying species distribution data derived from GBIF with WorldClim data in QGIS.Quality Control
Data entries were provided or checked by specialists in the taxonomic groups.Method steps
- An extensive search is conducted for literature sources that describe life history and/or ecology of arthropods. Data is compiled in separate Excel sheets for each arthropod order.
- Taxonomic experts are contacted and have addressed noticeable gaps in the dataset by providing personal data.
- Thermal niche data is calculated for each species by overlaying GBIF distribution data with WorldClim climate data in QGIS.
- The separate Excel sheets are merged in a single Excel sheet containing a single row of data per species. This is done by averaging continuous trait values or selecting the most inclusive categorical trait values for each species.
- The resulting Darwin Core data files are mainly created in R, uploaded to the IPT of the Belgian Biodiversity Platform and documented with metadata by Stijn Cooleman.
- The dataset is published and registered with GBIF.
Taxonomic Coverages
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Animaliarank: kingdom
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Arthropodarank: phylum
Geographic Coverages
Bibliographic Citations
- Garben Logghe, Femke Batsleer, Dirk Maes, Tristan Permentier, Matty P. Berg, Dimitri Brosens, Stijn Cooleman, Pallieter De Smedt, Jonas Hagge, Jorg Lambrechts, Marc Pollet, Fons Verheyde, Dries Bonte. 2024. An in-depth dataset of northwestern European arthropod life histories and ecological traits. bioRxiv 2024.12.17.628846 -
Contacts
Garben Loggheoriginator
Ghent University
BE
email: garben.logghe@ugent.be
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2000-7982
Femke Batsleer
originator
Ghent University
BE
email: femke.batsleer@ugent.be
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5893-5966
Dirk Maes
originator
Research Institute for Nature and Forest
BE
email: dirk.maes@inbo.be
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7947-3788
Tristan Permentier
originator
Ghent University
BE
Matty P. Berg
originator
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
NL
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8442-8503
Dimitri Brosens
originator
Research Institute for Nature and Forest
BE
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0846-9116
Stijn Cooleman
originator
Belgian Biodiversity Platform
BE
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3029-0451
Pallieter De Smedt
originator
Ghent University
BE
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3073-6751
Jonas Hagge
originator
Northwest German Forest Research Institute
DE
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8938-6680
Jorg Lambrechts
originator
Natuurpunt Studie
BE
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4042-7829
Marc Pollet
originator
Research Institute for Nature and Forest
BE
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5198-5928
Fons Verheyde
originator
Flanders Marine Institute
BE
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2240-9689
Dries Bonte
originator
Ghent University
BE
email: dries.bonte@ugent.be
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3320-7505
Garben Logghe
metadata author
Ghent University
BE
email: garben.logghe@ugent.be
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2000-7982
Dries Bonte
administrative point of contact
Ghent University
BE
email: dries.bonte@ugent.be
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3320-7505
Garben Logghe
administrative point of contact
Ghent University
BE
email: garben.logghe@ugent.be
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2000-7982