Elevation and moths in a central eastern Queensland rainforest

Elevational gradients are powerful natural experiments for the investigation of ecological responses to changing climates. Automated modified Pennsylvania light traps were used to sample macro-moth assemblages for three consecutive nights at each of 24 sites ranging from 200m asl to 1200m asl within continuous tropical rainforest at Eungella, Queensland, Australia (21 degrees S, 148 degrees E). A total of 13861 individual moths representing approximately 713 morphospecies and 10045 individuals belonging to approximately 607 morphospecies where sampled during November 2013 and March 2014 respectively. Moth assemblages exhibited a strong elevational signal during both sampling seasons; we grouped these into lowland and upland assemblages. The dispersal pattern of moth assemblages across the landscape reflected the stratification of vegetation communities across elevation and correlated with shifts in eco-physical variables, most notably temperature and substrate organic matter. Regional historical biogeographical events likely contributed to the observed patterns. The analysis presented here identifies a set of statistically defined elevationally restricted moths which may be of use as part of a multi-taxon predictor set for monitoring future ecosystem level changes associated with elevation and, by implication, with climate.