Meetnetten.be - Chorus counts for Amphibia in Flanders, Belgium
Citation
Piesschaert F, Speybroeck J, Brosens D, Westra T, Desmet P, Ledegen H, Van de Poel S, Pollet M (2024). Meetnetten.be - Chorus counts for Amphibia in Flanders, Belgium. Version 1.20. Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO). Sampling event dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/d4bu8j accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-10.Description
Meetnetten.be - Chorus counts for Amphibia in Flanders, Belgium is a sampling event dataset published by the Research Institute of Nature and Forest (INBO). It is part of the Meetnetten.be suite of monitoring networks for priority species in Flanders, in which data are collected at fixed locations using a standardized protocol (https://meetnetten.be). This dataset contains site counts for 3 priority species (Hyla arborea, Epidalea calamita and Pelobates fuscus), as well as other amphibian species observed during sampling. Here, it is published as a standardized Darwin Core Archive and includes for each sampling event an eventID, date, location and sampling protocol (in the event core) and for each occurrence an occurrenceID, the number of recorded individuals, status (present/absent) and scientific name (in the occurrence extension). Issues with the dataset can be reported at https://github.com/inbo/meetnetten-occurrences/issues
Generalized and/or withheld information: as these are sensitive priority species, location information is generalized to 1, 5 or 10 km Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid cells. Original locations are available upon request.
We have released this dataset to the public domain under a Creative Commons Zero waiver. We would appreciate it if you follow the INBO norms for data use (https://www.inbo.be/en/norms-data-use) when using the data. If you have any questions regarding this dataset, don't hesitate to contact us via the contact information provided in the metadata or via opendata@inbo.be.
For all published Meetnetten.be datasets, see https://www.gbif.org/dataset/search?project_id=meetnetten.be
Sampling Description
Study Extent
1. Pelobates fuscus, or the common spadefoot toad, is found in fishless cattle drinking pools and relatively nutrient-rich ponds, but also in cut brook and river meanders in a fairly open, sandy environment. These are often water features in (buffered) heathlands, but also near dikes and even vegetable gardens and extensively managed fields. This type of habitat is rare in Flanders. The common spadefoot currently only occurs in the central part of Limburg. 2. Hyla arborea, or the common tree frog, is found in the scrubland of the Limburgse Kempen, a restricted section of the Antwerpse Kempen near the Belgian-Dutch border, and the dunes of the Zwin. In recent years, the Flemish population has increased. 3. Epidalea calamita or the Natterjack toad is a true pioneer species that thrives in dynamic environments. The species reproduces from April to August, when the animals gather in breeding pools and the males call loudly.Sampling
For the tree frog and spadefoot toad the number of calling males is counted in the reproductive habitat at least twice a year. 1. Male Pelobates fuscus call from the bottom of the waterbody. The calls being fairly weak, counting the exact number of calling males by ear can be challenging. This is particularly the case when other anurans such as Hyla arborea are calling simultaneously. Therefore, the use of an underwater hearing device or hydrophone is advocated. Each waterbody is investigated with waders, in order to approach the calling animals upto hearing distance. 2. Hyla arborea: Monitoring in the framework of the Tree Frog Monitoring Network is done by counting the number of calling males, or in some cases, by estimating the number.3. For the Natterjack toad monitoring network, calling choruses need to be monitored three times. The number of calling males is counted or in some cases, when the population turns out to be too large, estimated. The number of calling males is counted exactly at each visit. For up to 50 animals the sounds are still good to distinguish and localize so that this is easy (Bauwens & Speybroeck, 2014; Groenveld et al., 2011). With more animals a more rough estimate can be given. Sampling was done using the protocol described in De Bruyn et al. (2015), updated by Speybroeck et al. (2020), and explained to volunteers in Lewylle et al. (2017).
Quality Control
Data are collected using a predefined sampling protocol.Method steps
- Researchers from INBO and Natuurpunt Studie define and document the appropriate sampling protocol for the target species.
- Fieldwork is planned and coordinated by Natuurpunt Studie, using https://meetnetten.be.
- Data are collected in the field by specialized volunteers, using the predefined sampling protocol.
- Volunteers enter the collected data in https://meetnetten.be.
- A custom SQL view is created in the meetnetten.be database to map the original data to Darwin Core as an event core with an occurrence extension
- The Darwin Core views are connected to the INBO IPT and documented with metadata.
- The dataset is published and registered with GBIF.
Taxonomic Coverages
-
Animaliarank: kingdom
-
Chordatarank: phylum
-
Amphibiarank: class
-
Caudatarank: order
-
Anurarank: order
-
Hyla arborearank: species
-
Epidalea calamitarank: species
-
Pelobates fuscusrank: species
Geographic Coverages
Bibliographic Citations
- Luc De Bruyn, Jeroen Speybroeck, Dirk Maes, Geert De Knijf, Thierry Onkelinx, Frederic Piesschaert, Marc Pollet, Toon Westra & Paul Quataert (2015). Monitoringsprotocol kikkers en padden. Rapporten van het Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek 2015 (INBO.R.11336466). Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek, Brussel. -
- Van de Poel S., I. Lewylle, M. Segal & H. Ledegen. 2018. Veldwerkhandleiding Rugstreeppad. Natuurpunt Studie, Mechelen -
- I. Lewylle, M & H. Ledegen. 2018. Veldwerkhandleiding Boomkikker. Natuurpunt Studie, Mechelen -
- Speybroeck J, De Bruyn L, Van de Poel S, Ledegen H, Westra T (2020). Monitoringsprotocol amfibieën en reptielen. Versie 2.0. Rapporten van het Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek 2020 (22). Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek, Brussel. - https://doi.org/10.21436/inbor.17954118
Contacts
Frederic Piesschaertoriginator
position: researcher
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
BE
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5843-646X
Jeroen Speybroeck
originator
position: researcher
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
BE
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7241-7804
Dimitri Brosens
originator
position: researcher
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)/ Belgian Biodiversity Platform
BE
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0846-9116
Toon Westra
originator
position: researcher
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
BE
email: toon.westra@inbo.be
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2478-9459
Peter Desmet
originator
position: researcher
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
BE
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8442-8025
Hannes Ledegen
originator
position: researcher
Natuurpunt
BE
email: hannes.ledegen@natuurpunt.be
homepage: http://www.natuurpunt.be
Sam Van de Poel
originator
Natuurpunt
BE
email: sam.vandepoel@natuurpunt.be
homepage: http://natuurpunt.be
Marc Pollet
originator
position: Research manager
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
BE
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5198-5928
Dimitri Brosens
metadata author
position: researcher
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO) / Belgian Biodiversity Platform
BE
email: dimitri.brosens@inbo.be
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0846-9116
Peter Desmet
metadata author
position: researcher
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
BE
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8442-8025
Dimitri Brosens
user
email: dimitri.brosens@inbo.be
Frederic Piesschaert
administrative point of contact
position: researcher
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
BE
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5843-646X