Full-elevational gradient dataset on moth diversity and abundance in a temperate mountain range

Abstract Climate change is reshaping ecosystems worldwide, yet our ability to quantify its long-term impact across taxa is limited by a lack of reliable and comparable data. Here, we present a systematically collected long-term dataset spanning nearly a decade (2012–2021), documenting the diversity, abundance, and distribution of 439 moth species (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) from the Czech part of the Giant Mountains, a region entirely protected as Krkonoše National Park. Using standardised light traps, we sampled 982 localities across an area of 550 km², yielding a total of 64,776 specimens. Localities are accompanied by in-situ assessments of vegetation characteristics and management regimes, complemented by topographical derivatives and ecosystem information retrieved post-hoc from open spatial data. The dataset provides a valuable resource for investigating spatial and temporal patterns in moth diversity and abundance, as well as for evaluating the effects of different management practices, supporting both basic and applied research.