Data from: Rapoport’s rule explains the range size distribution of butterflies along the Eastern Himalayan elevation gradient

Understanding elevational range size distribution of organisms can provide
valuable insights on biogeographic pattern of species and their
conservation. Rapoport’s rule posits that the elevational range size of
species increases with increasing elevation. However, the validity of this
rule is often questioned due to variations in methodologies across studies
and inconsistencies among different groups of organisms. In this study we
examined the elevational range size distribution of butterflies in the
Eastern Himalaya, and assessed the applicability of Rapoport’s rule using
different approaches, which perhaps is the first of its kind in the
Himalaya. We sampled butterflies along the elevational gradient of 16
elevational bands (300 – 3,300 m) using point count method along the
transect. The sampled butterflies were grouped into various sub-groups
based on family, biogeographic affinity, and larval feeding pattern. We
found that the majority of the butterfly species (total as well as
sub-groups) had small range sizes, and their elevational range
distribution showed support for the Rapoport’s rule. Increase in variation
in temperature as measured by temperature seasonality and mean annual
temperature range were the most important predictors of range size
distribution pattern of the overall butterfly community. However, the
relationship between range size and climatic variability differed among
various sub-groups implying that the perceived pattern may vary even
within the species of the same taxon.