Binnen het VMM waterbodemmeetnet wordt de waterbodemkwaliteit van 600 meetplaatsen in zowel bevaar-bare als onbevaarbare waterlopen aan de hand van de Triade methode opgevolgd. De kwaliteitsbeoordelingis gebaseerd op een combinatie van chemische, biologische en ecotoxicologische parameters. Daarnaast is ereen Vlaams palingpolluentenmeetnet dat wordt beheerd door het INBO. Dit meetnet beschikt momenteelover gegevens van ca 350 meetplaatsen op kanalen, rivieren en afgesloten watersystemen waar de concen-tratie van een reeks van PCB’s, zware metalen en pesticiden in paling opgevolgd wordt. Dit biedt ook demogelijkheid om de biobeschikbaarheid van deze vervuilende stoffen aan te tonen. Via afstemming kunnenbeide meetnetten een krachtiger beleidsinstrument betekenen voor de waterbodemsanering en het water-beleid in brede zin. Er wordt nader ingegaan op de praktische implicaties van deze samenwerking rekeninghoudend met de historiek, eigenheid en complementariteit van beide meetnetten.Within the sediment monitoring network from the Flemish Environmental Agency (VMM) the sedimentquality of 600 locations in Flanders in both navigable as well as in unnavigable waters, is monitored bymeans of the TRIADE method. This TRIADE sediment quality assessment is based on a combination ofchemical, biological and ecotoxicological parameters. The Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)uses the Flemish eel pollutant monitoring network to monitor 350 locations in Flanders. These locations aresituated on canals, rivers and on closed water bodies. The concentrations of PCBs, heavy metals andorganochlorine pesticides are quantified in eel. At the same time these concentrations in eel give us valuableinformation on the bioavailability of these substances. Closer cooperation between both monitoring net-works will provide an efficient policy tool, specifically for the sanitation/decontamination of the sedimentand for the water policy in general. We will go into detail on the practical implications of such a kind ofcooperation keeping in account the history, singularity and complementarity of both monitoring networks.
Deze kaartlaag omvat de relevante open ruimte voor patrijs (Perdix perdix) in Vlaanderen. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5814813 bevat de broncode en basisdata die aan de oorsprong liggen van deze kaartlaag.
Abstract Aim Species distribution models built with geographically restricted data often fail to capture the full range of conditions experienced by species across their entire distribution area. Using such models to predict distribution shifts under future environmental change may, therefore, produce biased projections. However, restricted‐scale models have the potential to include a larger sample of taxa for which distribution data are available and to provide finer‐resolution projections that are better applied to conservation planning than the forecasts of broad‐scale models. We examine the circumstances under which the projected shifts in species richness patterns derived from restricted‐scale and broad‐scale models are most likely to be similar. Location Europe. Methods The distribution of butterflies in Finland, Belgium/Netherlands and Spain was modelled based on restricted‐scale (local) and broad‐scale (continental) distribution and climate data. Both types of models were projected under future climate change scenarios to assess potential changes in species richness. Results In Finland, species richness was projected to increase strongly based on restricted‐scale models and to decrease slightly with broad‐scale models. In Belgium/Netherlands, restricted‐scale models projected a larger decrease in richness than broad‐scale models. In Spain, both models projected a slight decrease in richness. We obtained similar projections based on restricted‐scale and broad‐scale models only in Spain because the climatic conditions available here covered the warm part of the distributions of butterflies better than in Finland and Belgium/Netherlands. Main conclusions Restricted‐scale models that fail to capture the warm part of species distributions produce biased estimates of future changes in species richness when projected under climatic conditions with no modern analogue in the study area. We recommend the use of distribution data beyond the boundaries of the study area to capture the part of the species response curves reflecting the climatic conditions that will prevail within that area in the future.
Wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) reappeared in Flanders (northern Belgium) in 2006 after almost half a century of absence. Interactions between wild boar and human activities are frequent due to extensive fragmentation of the landscape in Flanders. Complaints about agricultural damage are increasing but the actual extent of crop damage remains unknown. The goal of this study was to assess the current risk and the spatial distribution of crop damage, as well as factors influencing damage distribution in the province of Limburg (eastern Flanders). An online survey was sent to farmers by email. Moreover, as we expected potential respondent bias towards farmers that already experienced damage, we also conducted a follow-up non-respondent check by telephone. Our study showed that the current crop damage probability on a farm lies between 42% (likely an overestimation due to respondent bias in the online survey) and 22% (an underestimation based on the non-respondent check). There is considerable geographical variation in the proportion of farms that report boar damage; probability for crop damage due to wild boar is relatively high for farmers in Limburg but shows a geographically heterogeneous spread. Factors explaining the crop damage probability differed strongly between the online survey and the non-respondent check and no consistent results could be found. Our results show that using the online survey, it was possible to get an initial insight in the geographical distribution of crop damage. However, as we found differences between the results of the online survey and the non-respondent check, taking management decisions based solely on online survey results without conducting a non-respondent check could lead to misguided actions.
