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InboVeg - NICHE-Vlaanderen groundwater related vegetation relevés for Flanders, Belgium

Dataset homepage

Citation

De Bie E, Brosens D (2021). InboVeg - NICHE-Vlaanderen groundwater related vegetation relevés for Flanders, Belgium. Version 1.7. Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO). Sampling event dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/gouexm accessed via GBIF.org on 2025-05-22.

Description

The NICHE-Vlaanderen project had the goal to develop an hydro-ecological prediction model, used in ecological impact assessment studies. The data in this dataset is part of the vegetation-plot data used to feed the model and contains groundwater depending terrestrial vegetation relevées in relation to groundwater levels. Vegetation plot relevés were performed near selected piezometers (WATINA database, groundwater network Flanders) between May and August in 2002, 2004 and 2005. Initially the vegetation surveys were recorded in Turboveg (Hennekens, 1998) and later on moved to INBOVEG, the INBO vegetation plot database. The dataset contains 569 vegetation relevées, recorded during the fieldwork of the NICHE-Vlaanderen project. Relevées contain species coverage data, coverage data for layers, vegetation height and the date of recording. All the vegetation relevées were classified as vegetation types. Issues related to the dataset can by submitted here: https://github.com/inbo/data-publication/tree/master/datasets/inboveg-niche-vlaanderen-events

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 (https://doi.org/10.15468/gouexm) 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.

Purpose

The goal of "NICHE-Vlaanderen" is to adapt the Dutch hydro-ecological prediction model “NICHE (Nature Impact Assessment of Changes in Hydro‐Ecological Systems)" for Flanders. The "NICHE-Vlaanderen" tool will be used to predict the effects on vegetation due to changes in hydrological conditions. This dataset only contains the vegetation plot data collected during the time of the project (2002 – 2006). The complete NICHE-Vlaanderen set also contains data of literature.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

InboVeg Niche Vlaanderen Vegetation plot surveys were performed between May and July 2002 near selected Piezometers (INBO-watina project). Coördinates were registered with a GPS.

Sampling

Sampling Methods Vegetation surveys Vegetation, neighbouring each WATINA Piezometer is described using a nearby vegetation plot. In forests the plot measures 10X10m² in open vegetations this plot measures 3X3 m². The Piezometer usually is one of the corners of the plot. A orientated location sketch was created for every survey, to make repeatability possible. For every plot, all occurring species were determined and for every vertical layer (Trees, Shrubs, Herbs and Mosses) the coverage was measured (Londo scale). Londo scale Low coverage High coverage Code coverage Code coverage *.1 1% 1- 5-10% *.2 2-3% 1+ 10-15% *.4 4-5% 2 15-25% combination with: 3 25-35% r. some occurrences (1 or 2) 4 35-45% p. little occurrences (about 10) 5 45-55% a. many occurrences (about 100) 6 55-65% m. a lot occurrences (about 1000) 7 65-75% 8 75-85% 9 85-95% 10 95-100%

Quality Control

Records are validated

Method steps

  1. Vegetation relevé data is recorded in the InboVeg database. This data was mapped to Darwin Core by creating a specific view. We mapped the data to Darwin core event, Darwin Core occurrence extension and Darwin Core Measurements or Facts for the specific Relevé data.

Taxonomic Coverages

For every vegetation plot the tracheophytes and bryophytes were determined.
  1. Plantae
    rank: kingdom
  2. Tracheophyta
    common name: vascular plants rank: phylum
  3. Bryophyta
    common name: mosses rank: phylum

Geographic Coverages

Flanders, Watina (Water in Nature Reserves) Network Flanders, Belgium 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. All the vegetation survey data originates from plots close to the measuring points of the WATINA hydrologic monitoring network in Flanders.

Bibliographic Citations

  1. Rogiers, B., Lermytte, J., De Bie, E. and Batelaan, O., 2011. Evaluating the impact of river restoration on the local groundwater and ecological system: a case study in NE Flanders. Geologica Belgica, 14 (3-4), 265-276 -
  2. Callebaut J., De Bie E., Huybrechts W. & De Becker P. (2007) NICHE-Vlaanderen. SVW, 1-7. -

Contacts

Els De Bie
originator
position: Researcher
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
Kliniekstraat 25
Brussels
1070
Brussels Capital Region
BE
email: els.debie@inbo.be
homepage: http://data.inbo.be/en/inboveg
Dimitri Brosens
originator
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
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0846-9116
Els De Bie
metadata author
position: Researcher
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
Kliniekstraat 25
Brussels
1070
Brussels Capital Region
BE
email: els.debie@inbo.be
homepage: http://data.inbo.be/en/inboveg
administrative point of contact
Samenwerking Vlaams Water (SVW)
Mechelsesteenweg 64
Antwerp
2018
Antwerp
BE
administrative point of contact
Pidpa
Desguinlei 246
Antwerp
2018
Antwerp
BE
homepage: https://www.pidpa.be/
administrative point of contact
De Watergroep
Vooruitgangstraat 189
Brussels
1030
Brussels Capital Region
BE
homepage: https://www.dewatergroep.be/
administrative point of contact
Flanders Environment Agency (VMM)
Dokter De Moorstraat 24-26
Aalst
9300
East Flanders
BE
homepage: https://en.vmm.be/
administrative point of contact
KiWa
Sir Winston Churchill-laan 273
Rijswijk
2288
NL
homepage: http://www.kiwa.nl/
Els De Bie
administrative point of contact
position: Researcher
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
Kliniekstraat 25
Brussels
1070
Brussels Capital Region
BE
email: els.debie@inbo.be
homepage: http://data.inbo.be/en/inboveg
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