IMIS - Marine Research Groups

Geographic coverage: 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.
Taxonomic coverage: For every vegetation plot the tracheophytes and bryophytes were determined.
Sampling methods: 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%.
Studye 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.
Quality Control: Records are validated.
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.
The publication of this dataset was supported by the INBO as part of the Flemish contribution to LifeWatch.