Invasive species - American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) in Flanders, Belgium

Sander Devisscher; Tim Adriaens; Gerald Louette; Dimitri Brosens; Peter Desmet

doi:10.15468/2hqkqn

Invasive species - American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) in Flanders, Belgium

Citation

Devisscher S, Adriaens T, Louette G, Brosens D, Desmet P (2018). Invasive species - American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) in Flanders, Belgium. Version 1.11. Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO). Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/2hqkqn accessed via GBIF.org on 2019-01-20.

Description

Invasive species - American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) in Flanders, Belgium is a species occurrence dataset published by the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO). The dataset contains over 7,500 occurrences (25% of which are American bullfrogs) sampled between 2010 until now, in the months April to October. The data are compiled from different sources at the INBO, but most of the occurrences were collected through fieldwork for the EU co-funded Interreg project INVEXO (http://www.invexo.eu). In this project, research was conducted on different methods for the management of American bullfrog populations, an alien invasive species in Belgium. Captured bullfrogs were almost always removed from the environment and humanely killed, while the other occurrences are recorded bycatch, which were released upon catch (see bibliography for detailed descriptions of the methods). Therefore, caution is advised when using these data for trend analysis, distribution range calculation, or other. Issues with the dataset can be reported at https://github.com/LifeWatchINBO/data-publication/tree/master/datasets/invasive-bullfrog-occurrences

We strongly believe an open attitude is essential for tackling the IAS problem (Groom et al. 2015). 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 it 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/10.15468/2hqkqn) 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 increasing establishment of invasive alien species (IAS) present many challenges for policy makers, managers and researchers. An adequate response to IAS requires accurate and up-to-date information on their distribution. This information can only be provided if IAS data are available and usable by all. American bullfrog is a high profile IAS. Due to its broad global distribution and widespread effects on native biodiversity through various impact mechanisms, American bullfrog is listed as one of the top 100 most invasive alien species in the world by the IUCN (Lowe et al. 2000). The species is suspected to cause substantial ecological damage around large parts of the globe, exerting an additional pressure to already declining amphibian populations. Negative impacts on native biota entail competition, predation and the transmission of pathogens. Subsequently, in Europe, it is listed on the SEBI worst list of invasive non-native species with high impact on biodiversity, as well as the DAISIE list of the worst invasive aliens in Europe. For the same reasons, the species is included in the appendix to the Bern Convention recommendation n° 77 (1999) as a species which has proved to be a strong threat to biological diversity and for which eradication is strongly recommended. Moreover, the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation (338/97) Appendix B prohibits import of the species into the EU since December 1997. It is listed as a species of EU concern sensu the EU Regulation 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of IAS. The data in this dataset are useful for scientific purposes such as distribution modelling, as well as early warning and rapid response protocols, but note that bullfrogs (25% of the occurrences) were almost always removed from the environment during the research and eradication campaign.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

Bullfrog infested ponds and lakes in Flanders, Belgium.

Sampling

Sampling occurs yearly between April and October. Most of the captures are made with paired fyke nets which are placed at the bottom of ponds and lakes for about 24 hours, but other methods are used as well (indicated in samplingProtocol). With each capture, the number of bullfrogs at each developmental stage is recorded (indicated in lifeStage), as well as bycatch species (native amphibians, fish, non-native crayfish, invertebrates) which were released upon catch. Also recorded are date, location, number of employees involved, and start and end time of the capture event. Captures are conducted for research purposes (management efficiency, determination of population density, etc.) and the active management of bullfrogs. All captured bullfrogs (tadpoles and adults) are humanely killed following international and regional regulation (see bibliography for methods), except for the ponds 13353 to 13362, 13371, and 13372, where the bullfrogs were released for research purposes concerning passive management by introducing native predatory fish. During the INVEXO project (2010 - 2012) those larvae were marked for capture recapture purposes. During the post-INVEXO project (2013) captured (sub)adult bullfrogs received an unique marking on their hind toe webs for the same reason, as well as to receive insight into their movement.

Quality Control

Data collection and species identifications were performed by professional scientists or research assistants. The data was encoded in the INBO Recorder6 instance. De data was mapped to Darwin Core using a custom SQL query. All species are validated against the INBO nameserver species lists.

Method steps

See above.

Taxonomic Coverages

The sampling focus for this dataset is American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus (Shaw 1802) syn. Rana catesbeiana Shaw 1802), which represents 25% of the occurrences. The other occurrences are recorded bycatch (native amphibians, fish, non-native crayfish, invertebrates).

Animalia
common name: animals rank: kingdom
Actinopterygii
common name: ray-finned fishes rank: class
Amphibia
common name: amphibians rank: class
Crustacea
common name: Crustaceans rank: class
Insecta
common name: insects rank: class
Lithobates catesbeianus
common name: American bullfrog rank: species

Geographic Coverages

Flanders, Belgium. Most of the data originate from the province of Antwerp, as this province currently holds the main stronghold of the American bullfrog population.

Bibliographic Citations

Adriaens T (2013) Managing invasive aliens through habitat restoration and biomanipulation: The case of American Bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus in Belgium. 2nd International Congress on Biological Invasions - Biological Invasions, Ecological Safety and Food Security. Abstract book p. 133 http://www.icbi2013.org/admin/down/201401171009122826.pdf -
Adriaens T, Devisscher S, Louette G (2013) Risk analysis of American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus (Shaw). Risk analysis report of non-native organisms in Belgium. Rapporten van het Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek 2013 (INBO.R.2013.41). Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek, Brussel. http://ias.biodiversity.be/species/risk -
Devisscher S, Adriaens T, De Vocht A, Descamps S, Hoogewijs M, Jooris R, van Delft J, Louette G (2012). Beheer van de stierkikker in Vlaanderen en Nederland. Rapporten van het Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek 2012 (52). Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek, Brussel. https://www.inbo.be/nl/publicatie/beheer-van-de-stierkikker-vlaanderen-en-nederland -
Devisscher S, Adriaens T, Jooris R, Louette G, Casaer J (2013) Opvolging van Amerikaanse stierkikker Lithobates catesbeianus in de provincie Antwerpen - Onderzoeksopdracht in het kader van post-Invexo Actieplan stierkikker. Rapporten van het Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek 2013 (711500). Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek, Brussel. https://www.inbo.be/nl/publicatie/opvolging-van-amerikaanse-stierkikker-lithobates-catesbeianus-de-provincie -
Devisscher S, Louette G, Adriaens T (2014) Current status and management of American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus in Flanders. Science for the new regulation Abstractbook: BENELUX Conference on invasive species. p. 47 https://data.inbo.be/purews/files/6449340/Devisscher_etal_2014_In_Boets.pdf -
Louette G (2012) Use of a native predator for the control of an invasive amphibian. Wildlife Research, 39(3), 271-278. https://doi.org/10.1071/WR11125 - https://doi.org/10.1071/WR11125
Louette G, Devisscher S, De Vocht A, Hoogewijs M, Jooris R, Adriaens T (2012) De Stierkikker in Vlaanderen: naar een gericht beheer van een invasieve exoot. Natuur.focus. 11(4), 144-149. http://www.natuurpunt.be/sites/default/files/documents/publication/natuur.focus_2012-4_de_stierkikker_in_vlaanderen._naar_een_gericht_beheer.pdf -
Louette G, Devisscher S, Adriaens T (2013) Control of invasive American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus in small shallow water bodies. European journal of wildlife research 59(1), 105-114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-012-0655-x - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-012-0655-x
Louette G, Devisscher S, Adriaens T (2014) Combating adult invasive American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus. European journal of wildlife research, 60(4), 703-706. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-014-0829-9 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-014-0829-9
Lowe SJ, Browne M, Boudjelas S (2000) 100 of the world's worst invasive alien species: A selection from the Global Biodiversity Species Database. Auckland, New Zealand: Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) http://www.issg.org/pdf/publications/worst_100/english_100_worst.pdf -
Groom QJ, Desmet P, Vanderhoeven S, Adriaens T (2015) The importance of open data for invasive alien species research, policy and management. Management of Biological Invasions (2015) Volume 6, Issue 2: 119–125 https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2015.6.2.02 - https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2015.6.2.02

Contacts

Sander Devisscher
originator
position: Research assistant
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
Kliniekstraat 25
Brussels
1070
Brussels Capital Region
BE
email: faunabeheer@inbo.be

Tim Adriaens
originator
position: Researcher
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
Kliniekstraat 25
Brussels
1070
Brussels Capital Region
BE
email: tim.adriaens@inbo.be
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7268-4200

Gerald Louette
originator
position: Researcher
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
Kliniekstraat 25
Brussels
1070
Brussels Capital Region
BE
email: gerald.louette@inbo.be

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

Peter Desmet
originator
position: Data lab coordinator
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
Kliniekstraat 25
Brussels
1070
Brussels Capital Region
BE
email: peter.desmet@inbo.be
homepage: http://lifewatch.inbo.be
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8442-8025

Sander Devisscher
metadata author
position: Research assistant
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
Kliniekstraat 25
Brussels
1070
Brussels Capital Region
BE
email: faunabeheer@inbo.be

Tim Adriaens
metadata author
position: Researcher
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
Kliniekstraat 25
Brussels
1070
Brussels Capital Region
BE
email: tim.adriaens@inbo.be
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7268-4200

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
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0846-9116

Peter Desmet
metadata author
position: Data lab coordinator
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
Kliniekstraat 25
Brussels
1070
Brussels Capital Region
BE
email: peter.desmet@inbo.be
homepage: http://lifewatch.inbo.be
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8442-8025

Sander Devisscher
administrative point of contact
position: Research assistant
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
Kliniekstraat 25
Brussels
1070
Brussels Capital Region
BE
email: faunabeheer@inbo.be