Invasive species - Chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) in Flanders, Belgium

Study Extent

This dataset contains validated observational data (observations, roadkill) of muntjac and roe deer in Flanders reported directly to the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO). Observations were made by citizens or hunters. It also contains data from muntjac that are subject to a control campaign in Flanders under coordination of the Agency for Nature and Forest (ANB). This mostly involves coordinated shooting of muntjac from high seats.

Sampling

Every observation is reported to the INBO through email (faunabeheer@inbo.be), by telephone or other means. A standard field observations form is provided in Casaer et al. (2015). This form includes: date, site name, name of the observer, location, hour of arrival at and departure from the site, weather conditions (temperature, wind, fog, cloud cover, rain), species information (muntjak or roe deer), sex, life stage (adult or juvenile), total amount of individuals observed or culled. This form is transmitted to the INBO and fed into the INBO survey database.

Quality Control

See step description.

Method steps

1. The source data for this standardized occurrences dataset is contained in the survey database of the Research Institute of Nature and Forest (INBO).
2. A SQL script was developed to extract and transform the data to Darwin Core. This mapping script was uploaded to a GitHub repository (https://github.com/inbo/data-publication/tree/master/datasets/invasive-muntjak-occurrences/scr) and includes the following steps:
3. Perform some basic data cleaning of the raw data
4. Generate stable and unique identifiers for each event (eventID) and occurrence (occurrenceID)
5. Create an event core file with all sampling events whether or not the target species was observed (http://rs.gbif.org/core/dwc_event_2016_06_21.xml)
6. Create a occurrence extension file (http://rs.gbif.org/core/dwc_occurrence_2015-07-02.xml)
7. The resulting Darwin Core views are connected with the INBO IPT and documented with metadata.
8. The dataset is published and registered with GBIF.

This survey reports on the occurrences of the invasive Chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Flanders in the wild. Chinese muntjac is listed as an invasive species of EU concern sensu the EU Regulation 1143/2014, which requires member states to prevent or manage its introduction and spread.

1. Animalia
   rank: kingdom
2. Chordata
   rank: phylum
3. Mammalia
   rank: class
4. Muntiacus reevesi
   common name: Chinese muntjac rank: species
5. Capreolus capreolus
   common name: roe deer rank: species

Flanders, Belgium