DEMNA : Freshwater fish occurrences from monitorings on the biological quality of water bodies in Wallonia
Citation
Demol T, Coupremanne M, Cherot F (2017). DEMNA : Freshwater fish occurrences from monitorings on the biological quality of water bodies in Wallonia. Version 1.7. Service Public de Wallonie – Département d’Etude du Milieu Naturel et Agricole (SPW – DEMNA). Metadata dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/jgddny accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-08-27.Description
WARNING: SOME ERRORS WHERE SPOTED WITHIN THE DATASET. USE IS NOT RECOMMENDED BEFORE 2018 UPDATE. This occurrence dataset countains fresh water fish occurrences in wallonia (Belgium) compiled by Hydrobiology unit at the Department of Study of the Natural and Agricultural Environment (DEMNA- Public Service of Wallonia). The data come from an ongoing monitoring network on the biological quality of water bodies in Wallonia, and previous/alternative samplings events performed by DEMNA's hydrobiology unit. Opportunistic observations made during non-fish-target activities has also been included into the dataset. The Current monitoring network is composed of more than 440 sites, distributed among small streams to the largest rivers/canals from the hydrographic districts of the Meuse, the Scheldt, the Rhine and the Seine. The network was set up in order to perform the biological monitoring of water courses (Fishes, diatoms - doi:10.15468/vvkk9a -, macroinvertebrates - doi:10.15468/ew00u8 - and macrphytes- doi:10.15468/cumtkq) required, among other missions and activites of the DEMNA, for the Natura 2000 and Water Framework directive reportings. The updates will be realised annually, in order to implement previous-year validated data. We intend to integrate associated biometrics to this publication into the post-2018 updates. Results from the water masses monitoring can be accessed here : http://geoapps.wallonie.be/CigaleInter/. More information is available upon request adressed to the DEMNA, and please note that this dataset does not replace any official convention on the provision of biological data delivered by the department.Purpose
Calculation of the fish integrity index IBIP, in the context of the monitoring of the biological quality of water bodies in Wallonia. Permanent control sites network was set up for the EU Water Framework Directive, but the data are enriched with other monitoring projects and studies from the Department of Study of the Natural and Agricultural Environment.Sampling Description
Study Extent
The dataset is focused on surface water bodies from Wallonia. The current permanent monitoring network is composed of more than 440 control stations, distributed among the hydrographic districts of the Meuse, the Scheldt, the Rhine and the Seine. Some data come from surveys prior to the establishment of the current network (before 2006), opportunistic harvestings, and older data (before 1980) collected in other activities of the hydrobiology unit at the department of studiy of the Natural and Agricultural environment.Sampling
The protocol for the collection of fish by electrofishing is based on the standardized procedure of the CEN : Water Analysis -Fishing with Electricity (EN 14011, CEN, 2003). The sampling period is mainly concentrated between late summer and early autumn, and sampling takes place during day-light hours. The procedure and equipment are adapted according to the depth and wetted width of the bed of the sampled section. The length of this sampled section of the river ranges from 10 to 20 times its wetted width, with a minimum set to 100 m. Shallow rivers (under 0.7 m depth) are sampled by teams composed of an anode carrier (Direct Current or Pulsed Direct Current), an operator handling the power cable, two operators capturing individuals with hand-net (max. 6mm mesh size in order to capture smaller juveniles), and two operators holding a basin for collecting individuals. The teams (one anode team per 5 m of river width) cross the section by foot and against the current, in order to avoid the turbidity to affect the sampling. Two passes are made by gently advancing, with a slow lateral swing of the anode. When necessary, hand-net operators try to get the fish out of their hiding places. Deeper rivers (higher than 0.7 m) must be navigated by boat, making full station sampling impossible. Sub-sampling is carried out from the boat, along both the river banks and covering all meso-habitats in order to have a representative sample of the river with a minimal sampling area of 1000 square meters.Quality Control
A set of constraints of the database ensure a first standardization of content (predefined taxa lists, habitat typology, etc.). The data are only validated after verification by the experts in charge of the calculation and reporting of the Biological Fish Integrity Index (IBIP).Method steps
- Fish capture by electrofishing. Collection of individuals into basins.
- The people who transport the fish collection basins ensure the welfare of the fish by regularly transmitting the catch to the fish transporters on the banks.
- The fish transport team carries the catch to the sorting table, where the biometric supervisor decides what to do with it, either an immediate takeover or a stall in good condition.
- Biometrics include a table equipped with a measuring board and a scale where the fish are determined by an experienced person and where notes are taken.
- Fish are stored in the cages after they have been checked, throughout the duration of the fishing and until they are released.
- The field notes are transmitted to the person in charge of the biological indicator in the database of the unit: AQUABIO.
Additional info
The Data set also countains 'Ad Hoc observations'(SamplingProtocol). These observations come from field notes taken by the Hydrobiology unit outside the frame of electrofishing events, such as macroinvertebrates samplings in rivers.Taxonomic Coverages
Fresh water fishes from Belgium. Among the 64 freshwater fish taxa represented in the dataset, 5 are family-level, 10 gender-level, and 49 are species.
Initial encoding was based on taxa vernacular name, and loach species has been removed from the dataset since Cobitis taenia, Barbatula barbatula and Misgurnus fossilis belong to distinct families, leading to a taxonomic rank with little scientific sense.
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Agnathacommon name: Cyclostome rank: subphylum
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Osteichthyescommon name: Bony fish rank: superclass
Geographic Coverages
Wallonia, Belgium. Some exceptionnal observations might occur within the neighboring regions (Flanders) or countries (France, Luxembourg, etc.).
Bibliographic Citations
Contacts
Thierry Demoloriginator
position: Principal Graduate
Department d'étude du milieu naturel et agricole
Avenue Maréchal Juin 23
Gembloux
5030
Namur
BE
email: thierry.demol@spw.wallonie.be
Maxime Coupremanne
metadata author
position: Data Liaison officer
Belgian Biodiversity Platform
22 Avenue de la faculté
Gembloux
5030
Namur
BE
email: mcouprem@gmail.com
Thierry Demol
metadata author
position: Principal Graduate
Department d'étude du milieu naturel et agricole
Avenue Maréchal Juin 23
Gembloux
5030
Namur
BE
email: thierry.demol@spw.wallonie.be
Frédéric Cherot
metadata author
position: Biodiversity expert
Département d'étude du milieu naturel et agricole
Avenue Maréchal Juin 23
Gembloux
5030
Namur
BE
email: frederic.cherot@spw.wallonie.be
François Darchambeau
principal investigator
position: Adjunct
Department d'étude du milieu naturel et agricole
Avenue Maréchal Juin 23
Gembloux
5030
Namur
BE
email: francois.darchambeau@spw.wallonie.be
Maxime Coupremanne
curator
position: Data liaison officer
Belgian Biodiversity Platform
22 Avenue de la faculté
Gembloux
5030
Namur
BE
email: mcouprem@gmail.com
Maxime Coupremanne
administrative point of contact
position: Data liaison officer
Belgian Biodiversity Platform
22 Avenue de la faculté
Gembloux
5030
Namur
BE
email: mcouprem@gmail.com
Thierry Demol
administrative point of contact
position: Principal Graduate
Department d'étude du milieu naturel et agricole
Avenue Maréchal Juin 23
Gembloux
5030
Namur
BE
email: thierry.demol@spw.wallonie.be