Florabank1 - A grid-based database on vascular plant distribution in the northern part of Belgium (Flanders and the Brussels Capital region)

Wouter Van Landuyt

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.12.2849

Florabank1 - A grid-based database on vascular plant distribution in the northern part of Belgium (Flanders and the Brussels Capital region)

Citation

Van Landuyt W, Brosens D (2023). Florabank1 - A grid-based database on vascular plant distribution in the northern part of Belgium (Flanders and the Brussels Capital region). Version 45.23. Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO). Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.12.2849 accessed via GBIF.org on 2023-02-04.

Description

Florabank1 is a database that contains distributional data on the wild flora (indigenous species, archeophytes and naturalised aliens) of Flanders and the Brussels Capital Region. It holds about 3 million records of vascular plants, dating from 1800 till present. Furthermore, it includes ecological data on vascular plant species, redlist category information, Ellenberg values, legal status, global distribution, seed bank etc. The database is an initiative of "Flo.Wer" (http://www.plantenwerkgroep.be), the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO) (http://www.inbo.be) and the National Botanic Garden of Belgium (http://www.br.fgov.be). Florabank aims at centralizing botanical distribution data gathered by both professional and amateur botanists and to make these data available to the benefit of nature conservation, policy and scientific research. The occurrence data contained in Florabank1 are extracted from checklists, literature and herbarium specimen information. Of survey lists, the locality name (verbatimLocality), species name, observation date and IFBL square code - the grid system used for plant mapping in Belgium (Van Rompaey 1943) - are recorded. For records dating from the period 1972–2004 all pertinent botanical journals dealing with Belgian flora were systematically screened. Analysis of herbarium specimens in the collection of the National Botanic Garden of Belgium, the University of Ghent and the University of Liège provided interesting distribution knowledge concerning rare species, this information is also included in Florabank1.

The IFBL data recorded before 1972 is available through the Belgian GBIF node (http://www.gbif.org/dataset/940821c0-3269-11df-855a-b8a03c50a862), not through Florabank1, to avoid duplication of information. A dedicated portal providing access to all currently published Belgian IFBL records is available at: http://projects.biodiversity.be/ifbl.

All data in Florabank1 is georeferenced. Every record holds the decimal centroid coordinates of the > IFBL square containing the observation. The uncertainty radius is the smallest circle possible covering the whole IFBL square, which can measure 1 km² or 4 km². Florabank is a work in progress and new occurrences are added as they become available; the dataset will be updated through GBIF on a regularly base.

Purpose

The purpose of the Florabank database is the aggregation of occurrences data gathered by volunteers and/or professional botanists in order to make the data available for nature conservation, policy and research.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

The purpose of the Florabank database is the aggregation of occurrences data gathered by volunteers and/or professional botanists in order to make the data available for nature conservation, policy and research.

Sampling

The spatial coverage of the territory has evolved through time. The data from the period before 1939 pertains mostly to herbarium specimens and reflects only part of the vascular plant composition of the region. From 1939 onwards most observations are collected using a standardized protocol based on the methodology used for the Atlas of the flora of Belgium and Luxemburg (VAN ROMPAEY & DELVOSALLE 1972). The atlas area is covered by a grid of 4 x 4 Km squares, which is further subdivided into 1 x 1 Km squares. All species observed during a visit to a grid cell of 1 km² were recorded without distinguishing between common or rare species. In each 4 x 4 km square, more than one 1 km² squares were surveyed. The inventories dating from the period 1939-1971 fed the Atlas of the flora of Belgium and Luxemburg (VAN ROMPAEY & DELVOSALLE 1972) (figure 2), while those from 1972-2004 served to produce that by VAN LANDUYT et al. (2006) (figure 3). During the first period (figure 2) only one survey of 1km² in each grid of 4 x 4km was required, during the second period we attempted to obtain data from at least four 1 km² grids in each grid of 4x4 km. From 2005 onwards we continued to gather data using the same protocol.

Quality Control

All records are validated.

Method steps

All records are validated before they are added to Florabank. The basic reference for quality control is the Belgian atlas (VAN ROMPAEY & DELVOSALLE 1972). New data to be entered into the database are first submitted to a preliminary, automatic control. Observations pertaining to common species which were previously validated to occur in the neighbouring grid cells of 4 x 4 km squares over the last 35 years are automatically validated. Observations of species that are considered rare, or common species that have not been recorded in the neighbouring grid cells since 35 years are subjected to a manual control by experts. If the record concerns a location validated by other sources (e.g. recent herbarium specimens, peer reviewed papers) it is validated by the managers of the database, if not the observers can be asked to provide extra proof of their observation (e.g. herbarium specimens or photographs). Once an observation is validated (automatically or by the database manager) it can be considered for the validation of new observations.

Additional info

To allow anyone to use this dataset, we have released the data to the public domain under a Creative Commons Zero waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). We would appreciate however, if you read and follow these norms for data use (http://www.inbo.be/en/norms-for-data-use) and provide a link to the original dataset whenever possible. If you use these data for a scientific paper, please cite the dataset following the applicable citation norms and/or consider us for co-authorship. We are always interested to know how you have used or visualized the data, or to provide more information, so please contact us via the contact information provided in the metadata, opendata@inbo.be or https://twitter.com/LifeWatchINBO. Data pertaining to Brussels with occurrences from 2003-2005 is owned by BIM-IBGE. See: http://www.floraofbrussels.be/floraofbrussels/ for more information.

Taxonomic Coverages

The coverage of this database spans the Phylum Tracheophyta or vascular plants. The highest number of records are from the Magnoliopsida (76.48%) followed by Monocotyledones (20.92%), Filicopsida (1.44%), Sphenopsida (0.97%) Coniferopsida (0.13%) and Lycopsida (0.03%). Ginkgopsids are within the scope of Florabank, but do not occur within the geographical scope of the database.

Tracheophytes
common name: vascular plants rank: phylum
Coniferopsida
rank: class
Filicopsida
rank: class
Ginkgopsida
rank: class
Liliopsida
rank: class
Lycopsida
rank: class
Magnoliopsida
rank: class
Sphenopsida
rank: class
Sapindales
rank: order
Sarraceniales
rank: order
Saxifragales
rank: order
Scrophulariales
rank: order
Theales
rank: order
Thymelaeales
rank: order
Urticales
rank: order
Violales
rank: order
Gymnospermae
rank: order
Equisetales
rank: order
Pinales
rank: order
Taxales
rank: order
Filicales
rank: order
Marsileales
rank: order
Ophioglossales
rank: order
Osmundales
rank: order
Salviniales
rank: order
Ginkgoales
rank: order
Alismatales
rank: order
Arales
rank: order
Commelinales
rank: order
Cyperales
rank: order
Hydrocharitales
rank: order
Juncales
rank: order
Liliales
rank: order
Najadales
rank: order
Orchidales
rank: order
Poales
rank: order
Pontederiales
rank: order
Typhales
rank: order
Typhales
rank: order
Zingiberales
rank: order
Isoetales
rank: order
Lycopodiales
rank: order
Selaginellales
rank: order
Apiales
rank: order
Aristolochiales
rank: order
Asterales
rank: order
Callitrichales
rank: order
Campanulales
rank: order
Capparales
rank: order
Caryophyllales
rank: order
Celastrales
rank: order
Cornales
rank: order
Cucurbitales
rank: order
Dipsacales
rank: order
Elaeagnales
rank: order
Ericales
rank: order
Euphorbiales
rank: order
Fabales
rank: order
Gentianales
rank: order
Geraniales
rank: order
Haloragales
rank: order
Haloragales
rank: order
Hamamelidales
rank: order
Juglandales
rank: order
Lamiales
rank: order
Linales
rank: order
Loganiales
rank: order
Magnoliales
rank: order
Malvales
rank: order
Myricales
rank: order
Myrtales
rank: order
Nymphaeales
rank: order
Oleales
rank: order
Paeoniales
rank: order
Papaverales
rank: order
Piperales
rank: order
Plantaginales
rank: order
Plumbaginales
rank: order
Polemoniales
rank: order
Polygalales
rank: order
Polygonales
rank: order
Primulales
rank: order
Ranunculales
rank: order
Rhamnales
rank: order
Rosales
rank: order
Rubiales
rank: order
Rutales
rank: order
Salicales
rank: order
Santalales
rank: order
Araucariaceae
rank: family
Cupressaceae
rank: family
Pinaceae
rank: family
Taxodiaceae
rank: family
Taxaceae
rank: family
Adiantaceae
rank: family
Aspleniaceae
rank: family
Blechnaceae
rank: family
Dennstaedtiaceae
rank: family
Dryopteridaceae
rank: family
Hymenophyllaceae
rank: family
Polypodiaceae
rank: family
Thelypteridaceae
rank: family
Woodsiaceae
rank: family
Marsileaceae
rank: family
Ophioglossaceae
rank: family
Osmundaceae
rank: family
Azollaceae
rank: family
Salviniaceae
rank: family
Ginkgoaceae
rank: family
Alismataceae
rank: family
Butomaceae
rank: family
Araceae
rank: family
Lemnaceae
rank: family
Commelinaceae
rank: family
Cyperaceae
rank: family
Hydrocharitaceae
rank: family
Juncaceae
rank: family
Agavaceae
rank: family
Alliaceae
rank: family
Amaryllidaceae
rank: family
Dioscoreaceae
rank: family
Iridaceae
rank: family
Liliaceae
rank: family
Aponogetonaceae
rank: family
Juncaginaceae
rank: family
Najadaceae
rank: family
Potamogetonaceae
rank: family
Ruppiaceae
rank: family
Scheuchzeriaceae
rank: family
Zannichelliaceae
rank: family
Zosteraceae
rank: family
Orchidaceae
rank: family
Poaceae
rank: family
Pontederiaceae
rank: family
Sparganiaceae
rank: family
Typhaceae
rank: family
Cannaceae
rank: family
Isoetaceae
rank: family
Lycopodiaceae
rank: family
Selaginellaceae
rank: family
Apiaceae
rank: family
Araliaceae
rank: family
Aristolochiaceae
rank: family
Asteraceae
rank: family
Callitrichaceae
rank: family
Campanulaceae
rank: family
Lobeliaceae
rank: family
Brassicaceae
rank: family
Capparaceae
rank: family
Resedaceae
rank: family
Aizoaceae
rank: family
Amaranthaceae
rank: family
Caryophyllaceae
rank: family
Chenopodiaceae
rank: family
Molluginaceae
rank: family
Nyctaginaceae
rank: family
Phytolaccaceae
rank: family
Portulacaceae
rank: family
Aquifoliaceae
rank: family
Celastraceae
rank: family
Cornaceae
rank: family
Cucurbitaceae
rank: family
Adoxaceae
rank: family
Caprifoliaceae
rank: family
Dipsacaceae
rank: family
Valerianaceae
rank: family
Elaeagnaceae
rank: family
Actinidiaceae
rank: family
Clethraceae
rank: family
Empetraceae
rank: family
Ericaceae
rank: family
Monotropaceae
rank: family
Pyrolaceae
rank: family
Buxaceae
rank: family
Euphorbiaceae
rank: family
Caesalpiniaceae
rank: family
Fabaceae
rank: family
Betulaceae
rank: family
Fagaceae
rank: family
Apocynaceae
rank: family
Asclepiadaceae
rank: family
Gentianaceae
rank: family
Balsaminaceae
rank: family
Geraniaceae
rank: family
Limnanthaceae
rank: family
Oxalidaceae
rank: family
Tropaeolaceae
rank: family
Gunneraceae
rank: family
Haloragaceae
rank: family
Hippuridaceae
rank: family
Hamamelidaceae
rank: family
Platanaceae
rank: family
Juglandaceae
rank: family
Boraginaceae
rank: family
Lamiaceae
rank: family
Verbenaceae
rank: family
Linaceae
rank: family
Buddlejaceae
rank: family
Calycanthaceae
rank: family
Magnoliaceae
rank: family
Malvaceae
rank: family
Tiliaceae
rank: family
Myricaceae
rank: family
Lythraceae
rank: family
Onagraceae
rank: family
Trapaceae
rank: family
Cabombaceae
rank: family
Ceratophyllaceae
rank: family
Nymphaeaceae
rank: family
Oleaceae
rank: family
Paeoniaceae
rank: family
Fumariaceae
rank: family
Papaveraceae
rank: family
Saururaceae
rank: family
Plantaginaceae
rank: family
Plumbaginaceae
rank: family
Convolvulaceae
rank: family
Cuscutaceae
rank: family
Hydrophyllaceae
rank: family
Menyanthaceae
rank: family
Polemoniaceae
rank: family
Solanaceae
rank: family
Polygalaceae
rank: family
Polygonaceae
rank: family
Primulaceae
rank: family
Berberidaceae
rank: family
Menispermaceae
rank: family
Ranunculaceae
rank: family
Rhamnaceae
rank: family
Vitaceae
rank: family
Amygdalaceae
rank: family
Malaceae
rank: family
Rosaceae
rank: family
Rubiaceae
rank: family
Anacardiaceae
rank: family
Rutaceae
rank: family
Simaroubaceae
rank: family
Zygophyllaceae
rank: family
Salicaceae
rank: family
Loranthaceae
rank: family
Santalaceae
rank: family
Aceraceae
rank: family
Hippocastanaceae
rank: family
Sapindaceae
rank: family
Staphyleaceae
rank: family
Droseraceae
rank: family
Crassulaceae
rank: family
Grossulariaceae
rank: family
Hydrangeaceae
rank: family
Saxifragaceae
rank: family
Bignoniaceae
rank: family
Globulariaceae
rank: family
Lentibulariaceae
rank: family
Martyniaceae
rank: family
Orobanchaceae
rank: family
Pedaliaceae
rank: family
Scrophulariaceae
rank: family
Elatinaceae
rank: family
Hypericaceae
rank: family
Thymelaeaceae
rank: family
Cannabaceae
rank: family
Moraceae
rank: family
Ulmaceae
rank: family
Urticaceae
rank: family
Begoniaceae
rank: family
Cistaceae
rank: family
Frankeniaceae
rank: family
Loasaceae
rank: family
Passifloraceae
rank: family
Tamaricaceae
rank: family
Violaceae
rank: family
Ephedraceae
rank: family
Equisetaceae
rank: family

Geographic Coverages

Florabank deals with distribution data of the wild flora of Flanders and the Brussels Capital Region (Federal states of the Kingdom of Belgium). Florabank covers an area of 13.682 km². Flanders has a temperate maritime climate influenced by the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, with relatively moderate summers and mild winters. Flanders is the northern part of Belgium. The two main geographical regions of Flanders are the Yser basin, in the North-West and the central plain. Flanders is divided in 6 ecoregions (Dunes district; Kempens district; Loam district; River Maas; Polder district, Sand and Loam district). The Brussels Capital region is a small region (162 km²) surrounded Flanders and is entirely situated in the Loam district. The majority of this region is highly urbanized and only the southern part is occupied by a large beech forest.

Bibliographic Citations

Van Landuyt, W., Vanhecke, L., Hoste, I., & Bauwens, D. (2011) Do the distribution patterns of vascular plant species correspond to biogeographical classifications based on environmental data? A case study from northern Belgium. Landscape and Urban Planning, 99, 93-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2010.08.020 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2010.08.020
Van Landuyt, W., Hoste, I., & Vanhecke, L. (2007) Evolution générale de la flora de Flandre (Belgique) entre 1939-1971 et 1972-2004: évaluation des changements en tenant compte de l'intensité d'inventaire. L.A.S.E.R., Actes du colloque GEOFLORE 2007, 2007, 119-123. -
Hoste, I.; Van Landuyt, W.; Verloove, F. (2006). Landschap en flora in beweging, 19de en 20ste eeuw, in: Van Landuyt, W. et al. (Ed.) (2006). Atlas van de flora van Vlaanderen en het Brussels Gewest. pp. 45-67 -
Van Landuyt, W. (2009) Measuring invasive speed of alien plant species using data from a general mapping program in the north of Belgium. Book of abstracts, 2nd European Congres of Conservation Biology p. 147. Czech University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Science. -
Vanhecke, L.; Hoste, I. (2006). Met vallen en opstaan: het verhaal van de tweede kartering, 1972-2004, in: Van Landuyt, W. et al. (Ed.) (2006). Atlas van de flora van Vlaanderen en het Brussels Gewest. pp. 14-31 -
Van Landuyt, W.; de Beer, D. (2009). Planten, in: Beckers, K. et al. (Ed.) (2009). Een gericht natuurbeleid voor de prioritaire soorten in de provincie Antwerpen. pp. 25-64 -
Van Landuyt, W.; Vanhecke, L.; Hoste, I. (2006). Rode Lijst van de vaatplanten van Vlaanderen en het Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, in: Van Landuyt, W. et al. (Ed.) (2006). Atlas van de flora van Vlaanderen en het Brussels Gewest. pp. 69-81, -
Honnay, O., Piessens, K., Van Landuyt, W., Hermy, M., & Gulinck, H. (2003) Satellite based land use and landscape complexity indices as predictors for regional plant species diversity. Landscape and Urban Planning, 63, 241-250. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-2046(02)00194-9 - https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-2046(02)00194-9
Van Landuyt, W.; Vanhecke, L.; Hoste, I. (2006). Verzameling en verwerking van de basisgegevens, in: Van Landuyt, W. et al. (Ed.) (2006). Atlas van de flora van Vlaanderen en het Brussels Gewest. pp. 33-42 -
Louette, G., Adriaens, D., Adriaens, P., Anselin, A., Devos, K., Sannen, K., Van Landuyt, W., Paelinckx, D., & Hoffmann, M. (2011) Bridging the gap between the Natura 2000 regional conservation status and local conservation objectives. Journal for Nature Conservation, 17 (4), 224-235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2011.02.001 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2011.02.001
Maes, D., Bauwens, D., De Bruyn, L., Anselin, A., Vermeersch, G., Van Landuyt, W., De Knijf, G., & Gilbert, M. (2005) Species richness coincidence: conservation strategies based on predictive modelling. Biodiversity and Conservation, 14, 1345-1364. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-004-9662-x - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-004-9662-x
Schneiders, A., Van Daele, T., Van Landuyt W., & Van Reeth, W. (2011) Biodiversity and ecosystem services: Complementary approaches for ecosystem management? Ecological Indicators. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.06.021 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.06.021
Van Landuyt, W., Hoste, I., Vanhecke, L., Van den Bremt, P., Vercruysse, E., & De Beer, D. (2006) Atlas van de Flora van Vlaanderen en het Brussels Gewest. Instituut voor natuur- en bosonderzoek, Nationale Plantentuin van België & Flo.Wer, Brussel. -
Van Landuyt, W., Vanhecke, L., Hoste, I., Hendrickx, F., & Bauwens, D. (2008) Changes in the distribution area of vascular plants in Flanders (northern Belgium): eutrophication as a major driving force. Biodiversity and Conservation, 17, 3045-3060. -

Contacts

Wouter Van Landuyt
originator
position: Researcher
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
Kliniekstraat 25
Brussels
1070
Brussels Capital Region
BE
email: wouter.vanlanduyt@inbo.be

Dimitri Brosens
metadata author
position: Data liaison officer
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
Kliniekstraat 25
Brussels
1070
Brussels Capital Region
BE
email: dimitri.brosens@inbo.be
homepage: http://www.biodiversity.be

Wouter Van Landuyt
point of contact
position: Researcher
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
Kliniekstraat 25
Brussels
1070
Brussels Capital Region
BE
email: wouter.vanlanduyt@inbo.be

Wouter Van Landuyt
owner
position: Researcher
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
Kliniekstraat 25
Brussels
1070
Brussels Capital Region
BE
Telephone: 0032 (0) 2 525 02 96
email: wouter.vanlanduyt@inbo.be

Leo Vanhecke
author
position: Researcher
National Botanic Garden Belgium (NBGB)
Bouchout Domain, Nieuwelaan 38
Meise
1860
Flemish Brabant
BE
email: leo.vanhecke@br.fgov.be

owner
Brussels Environment (BIM/IBGE)
Gulledelle 100
Brussels
1200
Brussels Capital Region
BE
homepage: http://www.ibgebim.be

Dimitri Brosens
processor
position: Data liaison officer
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
Kliniekstraat 25
Brussels
1070
Brussels Capital Region
BE
email: dimitri.brosens@inbo.be
homepage: http://www.biodiversity.be

Wouter Van Landuyt
administrative point of contact
position: Researcher
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
Kliniekstraat 25
Brussels
1070
Brussels Capital Region
BE
email: wouter.vanlanduyt@inbo.be