Inland water macroinvertebrate occurrences in Flanders, Belgium

Sampling event
Latest version published by Flanders Environment Agency (VMM) on Oct 12, 2022 Flanders Environment Agency (VMM)
Publication date:
12 October 2022
License:
CC-BY 4.0

Download the latest version of this resource data as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A) or the resource metadata as EML or RTF:

Data as a DwC-A file download 24,593 records in English (5 MB) - Update frequency: as needed
Metadata as an EML file download in English (63 KB)
Metadata as an RTF file download in English (28 KB)

Description

The Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) is performing biological water quality assessments on inland waters in Flanders (Belgium) since 1989 and sediment quality assessments since 2000. The water quality monitoring network is a combined physico-chemical and biological network, the biological component focusing on macro-invertebrates. The sediment monitoring program produces biological data to assess sediment quality. Both monitoring programs aim to provide index values, applying a similar conceptual methodology based on the presence of macro-invertebrates. The biological data obtained from both monitoring networks are consolidated in the VMM database. The dataset published contains: 283,141 records of 207 observed taxa from 4,152 monitoring sites located on more than 669 different water courses. The data are distributed to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC-BY license.

The data in this sampling event resource have been published as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A), which is a standardized format for sharing biodiversity data. It contains a core table with the events (23,829 records) and two related extensions with occurrences (305,353) and measurements (109,122). An extension record supplies extra information about a core record. The IPT archives the data and thus serves as the data repository. The data and resource metadata are available for download here: https://ipt.inbo.be/resource?r=vmm-macroinvertebrates-events

Data Records

The data in this sampling event resource has been published as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A), which is a standardized format for sharing biodiversity data as a set of one or more data tables. The core data table contains 24,593 records.

2 extension data tables also exist. An extension record supplies extra information about a core record. The number of records in each extension data table is illustrated below.

Event (core)
24593
Occurrence 
320168
MeasurementOrFacts 
113432

This IPT archives the data and thus serves as the data repository. The data and resource metadata are available for download in the downloads section. The versions table lists other versions of the resource that have been made publicly available and allows tracking changes made to the resource over time.

Versions

The table below shows only published versions of the resource that are publicly accessible.

How to cite

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

Vannevel R, De Cooman W, Gabriels W, Lavens F, Mertens J, Vervaeke B, Brosens D (2022): Inland water macroinvertebrate occurrences in Flanders, Belgium. v1.15. Flanders Environment Agency (VMM). Dataset/Samplingevent. https://doi.org/10.15468/4cvbka

Rights

Researchers should respect the following rights statement:

The publisher and rights holder of this work is Flanders Environment Agency (VMM). This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY 4.0) License.

GBIF Registration

This resource has been registered with GBIF, and assigned the following GBIF UUID: 5ca32e22-1f1b-4478-ba7f-1916c4e88d67.  Flanders Environment Agency (VMM) publishes this resource, and is itself registered in GBIF as a data publisher endorsed by Belgian Biodiversity Platform.

Keywords

Samplingevent; Flemish Environment Agency; VMM; macroinvertebrates; biotic indices; water quality; sediment; Samplingevent

Contacts

Rudy Vannevel
  • Originator
  • Point Of Contact
Scientist
Flanders Environment Agency (VMM)
Dr. De Moorstraat 24-26
9300 Aalst
East Flanders
BE
Ward De Cooman
  • Originator
Scientist
Flanders Environment Agency (VMM)
Dr. De Moorstraat 24-26
9300 Aalst
East Flanders
BE
Wim Gabriels
  • Originator
Scientist
Flanders Environment Agency (VMM)
Dr. De Moorstraat 24-26
9300 Aalst
East Flanders
BE
Frank Lavens
  • Originator
Scientist
Flanders Environment Agency (VMM)
Dr. De Moorstraat 24-26
9300 Aalst
East Flanders
BE
Joost Mertens
  • Originator
Scientist
Flanders Environment Agency (VMM)
Dr. De Moorstraat 24-26
9300 Aalst
East Flanders
BE
Bart Vervaeke
  • Originator
Scientist
Flanders Environment Agency (VMM)
Dr. De Moorstraat 24-26
9300 Aalst
East Flanders
BE
Dimitri Brosens
  • Metadata Provider
  • Originator
Biodiversity Research Liaison Officer
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO) / Belgian Biodiversity Platform
Havenlaan 88, bus 73
1000 Brussels
Brussels
BE

Geographic Coverage

Belgium is located in the center of Western Europe and its surface area reaches 30,528 km². Of the three administrative regions, Flanders is situated in the northern part and covers an area of 13,522 km² (which is 44.29 % of the Belgian territory), roughly situated on 51° latitude and 4° longitude.

Bounding Coordinates South West [50.63, 2.53], North East [51.51, 5.94]

Taxonomic Coverage

The list below shows the taxonomic classification of macro-invertebrates expected to occur or observed. According to the VMM identification list (version 14 March 2017), 241 taxa are selected. Out of this number, 207 taxa have been observed between 1989 and 2016. Some taxa (between brackets) have occurred or are expected to occur in Belgium, but do not appear in the data set. In particular some taxa of Odonata, Ephemeroptera, and Plecoptera are considered less common in Flanders. On the other hand, the total number also includes some non-target taxa.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Coelenterata, Plathelminthes, Nemertea, Nemathelminthes, Annelida, Mollusca, Arthropoda
Subphylum Crustacea
Class Hydrozoa, Turbellaria, Oligochaeta, Polychaeta, Hirudinea, Gastropoda, Bivalvia, Arachnida, Branchiopoda, Ostracoda, Maxillopoda, Malacostraca, Insecta
Subclass Branchiura, Copepoda
Order Rhabdocoela, Seriata, Aranea, Anostraca, Notostraca, Conchostraca, Cladocera, Mysidacea, Amphipoda, Isopoda, Decapoda, Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, Hempitera, Neuroptera, Megaloptera, Coleoptera, Trichoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera
Family Planariidae, Dugesiidae, Dendrocoelidae, Aeolosomatidae, Branchiobdellidae, Enchytraeidae, Haplotaxidae, Lumbricidae, Lumbriculidae, Naididae, Tubificidae, Ampharetidae, Sabellidae, Chirocephalidae, Triopsidae, Leptestheriidae, Limnadiidae, Argulidae, Asellidae, Astacidae, Atyidae, Cambaridae, Corophiidae, Crangonyctidae, Gammaridae, Janiridae, Mysidae, Palaemonidae, Panopeidae, Sphaeromatidae, Talitridae, Tanaidae, Varunidae, Sisyridae, Osmylidae, Sialidae, Dryopidae, Dytiscidae, Elminthidae, Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, Hydraenidae, Hydrophilidae, Hygrobiidae, Noteridae, Psephenidae, Scirtidae, Beraeidae, Branchycentridae, Ecnomidae, Glossosomatidae, Goeridae, Hydropsychidae, Hydroptilidae, Lepidostomatidae, Leptoceridae, Limnephilidae, Molannidae, Odontoceridae, Philopotamidae, Phryganeidae, Polycentropodidae, Psychomyidae, Rhyacophilidae, Sericostomatidae, Athericidae, Blephariceridae, Ceratopogonidae, Chaoboridae, Chironomidae, Culicidae, Cylindrotomidae, Dixidae, Dolichopodidae, Empididae, Ephydridae, Limoniidae, Muscidae, Psychodidae, Ptychoperidae, Rhagionidae, Scatophagidae, Sciomyzidae, Simulidae, Stratiomyidae, Syrphidae, Tabanidae, Thaumaleidae, Tipulidae, Corixidae, Notonectidae, Pleidae, Nepidae, Naucoridae, Gerridae, Veliidae, Hebridae, Hydrometridae, Mesoveliidae, Chloroperlidae, Perlodidae, Perlodidae, Leuctridae, Capniidae, Nemouridae, Taeniopterigidae, Libellulidae, Corduliidae, Gomphidae, Aeshnidae, Coenagrionidae, Platycnemidae, Lestidae, Calopterygidae, Caenidae, Polymitarcidae, Ephemeridae, Potamanthidae, Ephemerellidae, Leptophlebiidae, Heptageniidae, Oligoneuriidae, Baetidae, Siphlonuridae, Mactridae, Cyrenidae, Sphaeriidae, Dreissenidae, Unionidae, Margaritiferidae, Ancroloxidae, Ancylidae, Planorbidae, Lymnaeidae, Physidae, Bithyniidae, Valvatidae, Viviparidae, Neritidae, Erpobdellidae, Hirudidae, Glossiphoniidae, Piscicolidae
Subfamily Eristalinae

Temporal Coverage

Start Date / End Date 1989-03-15 / 2021-10-15

Sampling Methods

The sediment quality network The procedure for sampling macro-invertebrates in sediments waters is described in a compendium for sampling and analysis, authorised by the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO). Prescribed sampling methods include core and grab samplers. Field observations, including in situ physico-chemical measurements, are noted on a field protocol. The methods for sampling and sample treatment are standardized and certified; additional information can be obtained by contacting the corresponding authors. Relevant field information is included in the reported database, partially aggregated under ‘dwc:dynamicProperties’.

Study Extent The macro-invertebrates data set contains data on inland water bodies (assessment of water quality) and on sediments (assessment of sediment quality) to allow calculation of biotic indices. Biotic indices are based on two properties: the number of taxa indicating the biodiversity, and the sensitivity of organisms (of a selected number of taxa) to (mainly organic) pollution. Biotic indices based on macro-invertebrates complement the physico-chemical water quality and are commonly considered as pollution indicators (for this reason they are called water quality indices), although they also partially reflect overall habitat conditions. Since biotic indices are intended for quick and practical use, numbers of organisms are estimated and the identification level is restricted.
Quality Control Comments regarding quality control apply to both the water and sediment quality networks. Field protocols and identification lists were used to allow comparable observations. However, a number of versions with new and adapted data elements haven been produced. Field observations are highly objectivated in this way, although differences resulting from personal interpretation may still occur. The same applies to taxonomic identification, and in this respect it is advised to consult also the expert publications based on the VMM data set (see reference list: publications based on this dataset). Differences with present taxonomic nomenclature can be experienced, for the reason distortion of biotic index values is avoided as much as possible. Be aware a large number of people contributed to the taxonomic identification over the years, which unavoidably led to errors (misidentification, inclusion of terrestrial taxa, etc.). For taxonomic verification of sample material, experts can contact the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS, Brussels) (http://collections.naturalsciences.be/) where the VMM macro-invertebrate samples are stored. RBINS identifiers apply to all VMM samples of a single year.

Method step description:

  1. Users of the data can comment on this macro-invertebrate dataset at https://github.com/LifeWatchVMM/macro-invertebrates -occurrences .

Collection Data

Collection Name VMM macroinvertebrates

Bibliographic Citations

  1. De Deckere E., De Cooman W., Florus M. & Devroede-Vanderlinden M.-P. (red), 2000. Handboek voor de karakterisatie van de bodems van de Vlaamse waterlopen, volgens triade. Ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap. 112 p. (in Dutch)
  2. De Pauw N., Beyst B. & Heylen S., 2000. Development of a biological assessment method for river sediments in Flanders, Belgium. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 27: 2703-2708.
  3. De Pauw N. & Heylen S., 2001. Biotic index for sediment quality assessment of watercourses in Flanders, Belgium. Aquatic Ecology 35: 121–133, 2001.
  4. De Pauw N., Roels D. & Fontoura A.P., 1986. Use of artificial substrates for standardized sampling of macroinvertebrates in the assessment of water quality by the Belgian Biotic Index. Hydrobiologia 133: 237-258.
  5. De Pauw N. & Vanhooren G., 1983. Method for the biological quality assessment of watercourses in Belgium. Hydrobiologia, 100: 153-168.
  6. De Pauw N. & Vannevel R., 1991. Macro-invertebraten en waterkwaliteit. Stichting Leefmilieu, Antwerpen. 316 p. (in Dutch)
  7. Gabriels W., Goethals P. L. M. & De Pauw N., 2005. Implications of taxonomic modifications and alien species on biological water quality assessment as exemplified by the Belgian Biotic Index method. Hydrobiologia (2005) 542:137–150. DOI 10.1007/s10750-004-1452-7
  8. Gabriels W., Lock K., De Pauw N. & Goethals P.L.M., 2010. Multimetric Macroinvertebrate Index Flanders (MMIF) for biological assessment of rivers and lakes in Flanders (Belgium). Limnologica 40 (2010) 199–207. doi:10.1016/j.limno.2009.10.001
  9. NBN, 1984. Qualité biologique des cours d’eau – Determination de l’indice biotique se basant sur les macro-invertébrés aquatiques. / Biologische kwaliteit van de waterlopen – Bepaling van de biotische index steunende op aquatische macro-invertebraten. Norme Belge – Belgische Norm NBN T92-402. Belgisch Instituut voor normalisatie – Institut Belge de Normalisation. 11 p. (in Dutch and French)
  10. VMM, 2009. Biological assessment of the natural, heavily modified and artificial surface water bodies in Flanders according to the European Water Framework Directive. Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij (VMM), Aalst, Belgium. December 2009. 80 p
  11. Robertson T., Döring M., Guralnick R., Bloom D., Wieczorek J. et al., 2014. The GBIF Integrated Publishing Toolkit: Facilitating the Efficient Publishing of Biodiversity Data on the Internet. PLoS ONE 9(8): e102623. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102623
  12. Wieczorek J., Bloom D., Guralnick R., Blum S., Döring M. et al., 2012. Darwin Core: An Evolving Community-Developed Biodiversity Data Standard. PLoS ONE 7(1): e29715. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029715
  13. Boets P., 2013. Impact assessment of alien macroinvertebrates in Flanders (Belgium). PhD thesis, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium. 209 p.
  14. Boets P., Brosens D., Lock K., Adriaens T., Aelterman B., Mertens J., Goethals P.L.M., 2016. Alien macroinvertebrates in Flanders (Belgium). Aquatic Invasions (2016) Volume 11, Issue 2: 131–144. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3391/ai.2016.11.2.03
  15. Boets P., Lock K., Goethals P.L.M. (2010b). First record of Synurella ambulans (Müller, 1846) (Amphipoda: Crangonictidae) in Belgium. Belgian Journal of Zoology 140(2): 244-245.
  16. Boets P., Lock K., Tempelman D., van Haaren T., Platvoet D., Goethals P.L.M. (2012b). First occurrence of the Ponto-Caspian amphipod Echinogammarus trichiatus (Martynov, 1932) (Crustacea: Gammaridae) in Belgium. Bioinvasion records 1(2): 115-120.
  17. Boets P., Lock K., Adriaens T., Mouton A., Goethals P.L.M. (2012c). Distribution of crayfish (Decapoda, Astacoidea) in Flanders (Belgium): an update. Belgian Journal of Zoology 142(1): 86-92.
  18. Boets P., Lock K., Adriaens T. & Goethals P., 2014. Exotische macroinvertebraten in Vlaanderen - Verspreiding en impact op inheemse waterfauna. Natuur.focus 13(1): 22-30. (in Dutch)
  19. De Somere P., 2008. Datagebaseerde verspreidingsmodellen voor macro-invertebraten in Vlaamse riviersedimenten / Data driven species distribution models for macroinvertebrates in Flemish river sediments. Universiteit Gent, Faculteit Bio-Ingenieurswetenschappen. Academiejaar 2007-2008. Masterproef voorgedragen tot het behalen van de graad van ‘Master in de Milieusanering en het Milieubeheer’. 54 p.
  20. Gabriels W., 2007. Multimetric assessment of freshwater macroinvertebrate communities in Flanders, Belgium. PhD thesis. Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Belgium. 207 p.
  21. Gabriels W., Goethals P. L. M. & De Pauw N., 2005. Implications of taxonomic modifications and alien species on biological water quality assessment as exemplified by the Belgian Biotic Index method. Hydrobiologia (2005) 542:137–150. DOI 10.1007/s10750-004-1452-7
  22. Gabriels W., Lock K., De Pauw N. & Goethals P.L.M., 2010. Multimetric Macroinvertebrate Index Flanders (MMIF) for biological assessment of rivers and lakes in Flanders (Belgium). Limnologica 40 (2010) 199–207. doi:10.1016/j.limno.2009.10.001
  23. Goethals P.L.M., 2005. Data Driven Development of Predictive Ecological Models for Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Rivers - Gegevensgebaseerde Ontwikkeling van Predictieve Ecologische Modellen voor Benthische Macro-invertebraten in Rivieren. Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor (PhD) in Applied Biological Sciences / Proefschrift voorgedragen tot het bekomen van de graad van Doctor in de Toegepaste Biologische Wetenschappen. Academiejaar 2004-2005. Universiteit Gent, Faculteit Bio-ingenieurswetenschappen. 378 p.
  24. Goethals P., Gabriels W., Dedecker A., De Cooman W. & De Pauw N., 2006. Analyse van relaties tussen sedimentkarakteristieken en macroinvertebratengemeenschappen a.d.h.v. data mining technieken. Tijdschrift Water (2006): 4 p.
  25. Lock K., 2013. First records of trickle midges in Flanders (Diptera : Thaumaleidae). Bulletin de la Société royale belge d’Entomologie/Bulletin van de Koninklijke Belgische Vereniging voor Entomologie, 149 (2013) : 160-162.
  26. Lock K., Adriaens T., Goethals P., 2014. Effect of water quality on blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Flanders (Belgium). Limnologica 44 (January 2014): 58–65.
  27. Lock K., Dekoninck W., Adriaens T. & Goethals P.L.M., 2012. Distribution and ecology of mosquito larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) in Flanders (Belgium). Belg. J. Zool., 142 (2): 138-142.
  28. Lock K., Dekoninck W., Van De Meutter F. & Goethals P.L.M., 2012. Effect of water quality on waterbugs (Hemiptera: Gerromorpha & Nepomorpha) in Flanders (Belgium): results from a large-scale field survey. Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim. 49 (2013) 121–128. DOI: 10.1051/limn/2013047
  29. Lock K.,. & Goethals P.L.M., 2008. Distribution and ecology of the stoneflies (Plecoptera) of Flanders (Belgium). Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim. 2008, 44 (3: 203 – 213.
  30. Lock K.,. & Goethals P.L.M., 2011. Distribution and ecology of the mayflies (Ephemeroptera) of Flanders (Belgium). Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim. 47 (2011): 159–165. DOI: 10.1051/limn/2011011
  31. Lock K.,. & Goethals P.L.M., 2012. Distribution and ecology of the caddisflies (Trichoptera) of Flanders (Belgium). Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim. 48 (2012: 31–37. DOI: 10.1051/limn/2011056
  32. Lock K.,. & Goethals P.L.M., 2014. Predicting the occurrence of stoneflies (Plecoptera) on the basis of water characteristics, river morphology and land use. Journal of Hydroinformatics 16 (4 ): 812-821.
  33. Lock K., Van Haaren T., Tempelman D., Chérot F. & Adriaens T., 2013. Distribution and ecology of soldier fly larvae captured in Flemish surface waters (Diptera : Stratiomyidae). Bulletin de la Société royale belge d’Entomologie/Bulletin van de Koninklijke Belgische Vereniging voor Entomologie, 149 (2013): 150-159.
  34. Messiaen M., Lock K., Gabriels W., Vercauteren T., Wouters K., Boets P., Goethals P.L.M., 2010. Alien macrocrustaceans in freshwater ecosystems in the eastern part of Flanders (Belgium). Belgian Journal of Zoology 140(1): 30-39.

Additional Metadata

To allow anyone to use this dataset, we have released the data to the public domain under a Creative Commons CC-BY licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode). 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.

Purpose The macro-invertebrates data set contains data on inland water bodies (assessment of water quality) and on sediments (assessment of sediment quality) to allow calculation of biotic indices.
Alternative Identifiers 5ca32e22-1f1b-4478-ba7f-1916c4e88d67
https://ipt.inbo.be/resource?r=vmm-macroinvertebrates-events