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VMM - Rat control occurrences in Flanders, Belgium

Citation

Slootmaekers D, Gevens F, Reyserhove L, Oldoni D, Desmet P (2023). VMM - Rat control occurrences in Flanders, Belgium. Version 1.67. Flanders Environment Agency (VMM). Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/wquzva accessed via GBIF.org on 2023-05-28.

Description

The "VMM - Rat control occurrences in Flanders, Belgium" dataset is an occurrence dataset published by Flanders Environment Agency (VMM). The dataset is assembled by the VMM to monitor and control pest organisms in Flanders from 2016 onwards. It mainly includes observations of muskrats and brown rats, but other animal and plant pest species are included as well. Here it is published as a standardized Darwin Core Archive and includes for each occurrence record: an occurrenceID, scientific name, number of individuals (optional), date and location. Issues with the dataset can be reported at https://github.com/riparias/vmm-rattenapp-occurrences/issues.

We have released this dataset under a Creative Commons Attribution license. 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.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

All public watercourses in Flanders are prospected at least annually. All invasive species are recorded and/or exterminated.

Sampling

Trappers of the VMM will prospect all streams and water bodies at least twice every year for signs of muskrat or coypu activity. Regions with higher population densities are prospected more frequently. Upon detection of either species, traps are deployed according to the management protocol for muskrat in Flanders (beheerregeling muskusrat in Vlaanderen). Every trapping site is registered by the trapper through the use of a mobile gps application. Per trapping site the trapper will deploy one or multiple traps, all of which are registered in the application. The traps are checked frequently, preferably daily. Both catches and bycatches are registered for each individual visit to a trapping site. As soon as all muskrats/coypu have been caught at a location or whenever no new signs of rat activity are noticed, the trapper will remove the traps. For plants, water bodies and streams are visually screened by boat or from the river bank, at least on an annual basis. All records are recorded and/or exterminated.

Quality Control

Imagery is often provided through the registration app. Uncertain ID’s are double checked.

Method steps

  1. The source data for this standardized dataset is managed by the Flanders Environment Agency (VMM).
  2. An SQL script was developed to transform the data to Darwin Core. This mapping script was uploaded to a GitHub repository https://github.com/riparias/vmm-rattenapp-occurrences/tree/main/sql and includes the following steps:
  3. Perform some basic data cleaning of the raw data.
  4. Generate stable and unique identifiers for each occurrence (occurrenceID).
  5. Create a occurrence core file (https://rs.gbif.org/core/dwc_occurrence_2022-02-02.xml).

Taxonomic Coverages

The main species included are muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus, 45%), brown rat (Rattus norvegicus, 15%) and Eurasion beaver (Castor fiber, 10%). The dataset also includes records of water primrose (Ludwigia grandiflora), floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) and several other animal and plant pest species.
  1. Plantae
    rank: kingdom
  2. Animalia
    rank: kingdom

Geographic Coverages

Flanders, Belgium

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Dan Slootmaekers
originator
Flanders Environment Agency (VMM)
email: d.slootmaekers@vmm.be
Frank Gevens
originator
Flanders Environment Agency (VMM)
BE
email: f.gevens@vmm.be
Lien Reyserhove
originator
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
BE
email: lien.reyserhove@inbo.be
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7484-9267
Damiano Oldoni
originator
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
BE
email: damiano.oldoni@inbo.be
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3445-7562
Peter Desmet
originator
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
email: peter.desmet@inbo.be
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8442-8025
Dan Slootmaekers
metadata author
Flanders Environment Agency (VMM)
BE
email: d.slootmaekers@vmm.be
Lien Reyserhove
user
email: lien.reyserhove@inbo.be
Frank Gevens
administrative point of contact
Flanders Environment Agency (VMM)
BE
email: f.gevens@vmm.be
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