The global <scp>EPTO</scp> database: Worldwide occurrences of aquatic insects

Abstract Motivation Aquatic insects comprise 64% of freshwater animal diversity and are widely used as bioindicators to assess water quality impairment ecosystem health, well test ecological hypotheses. Despite their importance, a comprehensive, global database aquatic insect occurrences for mapping biodiversity in macroecological studies applied research is missing. We aim fill this gap present the Global EPTO Database , which includes worldwide geo‐referenced occurrence records four major taxa groups: Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera Odonata (EPTO). Main type variables contained A total 8,368,467 globally, 8,319,689 (99%) publicly available. The attributed corresponding drainage basin sub‐catchment based on Hydrography90m dataset accompanied by elevation value, ecoregion protection status location. Spatial location grain covers extent, with 86% observation having coordinates at least decimal digits (11.1 m precision equator) World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) coordinate reference system. Time period Sampling years span from 1951 2021. Ninety‐nine percent have information year observation, 95% month, while 94% complete date. In case seven sub‐datasets, exact dates can be retrieved upon communication data contributors. Major level measurement Odonata, standardized genus taxonomic level. provide species names 7,727,980 (93%) without further verification. Software format entire tab‐separated value (.csv) downloaded visualized https://glowabio.org/project/epto_database/ . Fifty individual datasets also available https://fred.igb‐berlin.de six restricted access. For latter, we share metadata contact details authors.