Invasive species - American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) in Flanders, Belgium (Post 2018) is a species occurrence dataset published by the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO). The dataset contains over 24600 occurrences (40 % of which are American bullfrogs) sampled between 2019 until now, in the months April to October. The occurrences were collected through fieldwork and the framework of bullfrog management. 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/inbo/sk-analyse 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/daf62d) 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. Data from 2010 to 2018 can be found here: https://doi.org/10.15468/2hqkqn

Butterfly monitoring scheme in Flanders, Belgium is a sampling event dataset published by the Research Institute of Nature and Forest (INBO). This dataset contains transect data for butterfly species, collected using a standardized protocol since 1991. Data from 1991-2014 were collected in the INBO Vlinderdatabank (Maes et al. 2016), but have since been migrated to the meetnetten.be database, where new observations are recorded. Here, the dataset is published as a standardized Darwin Core Archive and includes for each sampling event an eventID, date, location and sampling protocol (in the event core), the cloudiness, temperature, and wind force at the time of the event (in the measurement or fact extension) and for each occurrence an occurrenceID, the number of recorded individuals in a transect, lifestage, status (present/absent), vernacular and scientific name (in the occurrence extension). Issues with the dataset can be reported at https://github.com/inbo/meetnetten-occurrences/issues Generalized and/or withheld information: location information is generalized to 5 Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid cells. Original locations are available upon request. We have released this dataset to the public domain under a Creative Commons Zero waiver. We would appreciate it if you follow the INBO norms for data use (https://www.inbo.be/en/norms-data-use) when using the data. If you have any questions regarding this dataset, don't hesitate to contact us via the contact information provided in the metadata or via opendata@inbo.be.

Waarnemingen.be / observations.be - List of species observed in Belgium is a species checklist dataset published by Natuurpunt and Natagora. Waarnemingen.be (in Dutch) and observation.be (in French) are the two local Belgian subsites of the global observation.org website. The checklist comprises 18.785 species observed in Belgium. Here, it is published as a standardized Darwin Core Archive and includes for each species: the scientific name, higher classification and stable taxon identifier (in the taxon core), its status (native, introduced) and first and last observation date per region (Flanders, Brussels Capital Region, Wallonia) in Belgium (in the distribution extension). Only observations which were approved by species specialists based on provided evidence (photograph or sound), or which were approved based on expert judgment by the validating experts were considered for publication (see Swinnen et al. 2022 for the validation procedure). Observers’ data-sharing settings were respected at all times. When the first or last observation from a species in a region was not to be shared, observers were contacted to request an exception for this species list. In the few cases this authorisation was not acquired, the next (for the oldest record) or previous (for the most recent record) observation date was considered for publication. This species list does not represent a complete overview of Belgian biodiversity, only species that are recorded in the citizen science platforms waarnemingen.be and observation.be. Other datasets and checklists have to be considered for the compilation of a complete Belgian overview. We have released this dataset under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0). We would appreciate it, however, if you read and follow these norms for data use (http://www.natuurpunt.be/normen-voor-datagebruik). 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 prepared to provide more information or knowledge on how to use the data, so please contact us via the contact information provided in the metadata or natuurdata@natuurpunt.be. This dataset was published as open data for the TrIAS project (Tracking Invasive Alien Species http://trias-project.be, Vanderhoeven et al. 2017, Groom et al. 2022), with technical support provided by the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO). The subset of introduced species is selected as one of the authoritative sources for the compilation of a unified and reproducible checklist of alien species in Belgium published as the Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species - Belgium (Desmet et al. 2021). This way, validated newly reported alien species on the waarnemingen.be/observation.be citizen science portal (Swinnen et al. 2018) quickly find their way to the scientific tools supporting alien species policies and management in Belgium.

The VMM - Inland water macrophyte occurrences in Flanders, Belgium is a sampling event dataset published by the Flanders Environment Agency (VMM). The dataset originates from the macrophyte monitoring network of the VMM and was developed to meet the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). It includes information on more than 4000 sampling events, associated with more than 40 thousand occurrences of inland water macrophytes in Flanders, sampled from 2006 onwards. Here it is published as a standardized Darwin Core Archive and includes for each sampling event: an stable identifier, the sampling location, date and protocol (in the event core), linked to multiple occurrences of macrophytes (in the occurrence core). Sampling events in water bodies are linked to multiple (a)biotic measurements or facts (in the measurement or facts extension). Issues with the dataset can be reported at https://github.com/riparias/vmm-macrophytes-occurrences/issues We have released this dataset to the public domain under a Creative Commons Attribution License. We would appreciate it if you follow the INBO norms for data use (https://www.inbo.be/en/norms-data-use) when using the data. If you have any questions regarding this dataset, don't hesitate to contact us via the contact information provided in the metadata or via opendata@inbo.be.

Meetnetten.be - Sightings for Eresus sandaliatus in Flanders, Belgium is a sampling event dataset published by the Research Institute of Nature and Forest (INBO). It is part of the Meetnetten.be suite of monitoring networks for priority species in Flanders, in which data are collected at fixed locations using a standardized protocol (https://meetnetten.be). This dataset contains transect data for Eresus sandaliatus, one priority spider species. Here it is published as a standardized Darwin Core Archive and includes for each sampling event an eventID, date, location, locationID and sampling protocol (in the event core) and for each occurrence an occurrenceID, the number of recorded spiderwebs, status (present/absent) and scientific name (in the occurrence extension). Issues with the dataset can be reported at https://github.com/inbo/meetnetten-occurrences/issues Generalized and/or withheld information: as these are sensitive priority species, location information is generalized to 5x5 km Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid cells. Original locations are available upon request. We have released this dataset to the public domain under a Creative Commons Zero waiver. We would appreciate it if you follow the INBO norms for data use (https://www.inbo.be/en/norms-data-use) when using the data. If you have any questions regarding this dataset, don't hesitate to contact us via the contact information provided in the metadata or via opendata@inbo.be. For all published INBO Meetnetten.be datasets, see https://www.gbif.org/dataset/search?project_id=meetnetten.be

Meetnetten.be - Sightings for Eresus sandaliatus in Flanders, Belgium is a sampling event dataset published by the Research Institute of Nature and Forest (INBO). It is part of the Meetnetten.be suite of monitoring networks for priority species in Flanders, in which data are collected at fixed locations using a standardized protocol (https://meetnetten.be). This dataset contains area count data for Eresus sandaliatus, one priority spider species. Here it is published as a standardized Darwin Core Archive and includes for each sampling event an eventID, date, location and sampling protocol (in the event core) and for each occurrence an occurrenceID, the number of recorded spider webs, status (present/absent) and scientific name (in the occurrence extension). Issues with the dataset can be reported at https://github.com/inbo/meetnetten-occurrences/issues Generalized and/or withheld information: as these are sensitive priority species, location information is generalized to 5x5 km Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid cells. Original locations are available upon request. We have released this dataset to the public domain under a Creative Commons Zero waiver. We would appreciate it if you follow the INBO norms for data use (https://www.inbo.be/en/norms-data-use) when using the data. If you have any questions regarding this dataset, don't hesitate to contact us via the contact information provided in the metadata or via opendata@inbo.be. For all published INBO Meetnetten.be datasets, see https://www.gbif.org/dataset/search?project_id=meetnetten.be

Meetnetten.be - Transects for dragonflies in Flanders, Belgium is a sampling event dataset published by the Research Institute of Nature and Forest (INBO). It is part of the Meetnetten.be suite of monitoring networks for priority species in Flanders, in which data are collected at fixed locations using a standardized protocol (https://meetnetten.be). This dataset contains transect data for 3 priority dragonfly species, as well as other dragonflies observed during sampling. Here it is published as a standardized Darwin Core Archive and includes for each sampling event an eventID, date, location and sampling protocol (in the event core), the length of the transect (in the measurement or fact extension) and for each occurrence an occurrenceID, the number of recorded individuals, status (present/absent), life stage, sex and scientific name (in the occurrence extension). Issues with the dataset can be reported at https://github.com/inbo/meetnetten-occurrences/issues Generalized and/or withheld information: as these are sensitive priority species, location information is generalized to 1, 5 or 10 km Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid cells. Original locations are available upon request. We have released this dataset to the public domain under a Creative Commons Zero waiver. We would appreciate it if you follow the INBO norms for data use (https://www.inbo.be/en/norms-data-use) when using the data. If you have any questions regarding this dataset, don't hesitate to contact us via the contact information provided in the metadata or via opendata@inbo.be. For all published Meetnetten.be datasets, see https://www.gbif.org/dataset/search?project_id=meetnetten.be

Meetnetten.be - Exuviae counts for dragonflies in Flanders, Belgium is a sampling event dataset published by the Research Institute of Nature and Forest (INBO). It is part of the Meetnetten.be suite of monitoring networks for priority species in Flanders, in which data are collected at fixed locations using a standardized protocol (https://meetnetten.be). This dataset contains exuviae (larval skin remained behind after ecdysis) counts for 1 priority dragonfly species (Gomphus flavipes). Here it is published as a standardized Darwin Core Archive and includes for each sampling event an eventID, date, location and sampling protocol (in the event core), the length of the transect (in the measurement or fact extension) and for each occurrence an occurrenceID, the number of recorded individuals, status (present/absent), life stage, sex and scientific name (in the occurrence extension). Issues with the dataset can be reported at https://github.com/inbo/meetnetten-occurrences/issues Generalized and/or withheld information: as these are sensitive priority species, location information is generalized to 1, 5 or 10 km Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid cells. Original locations are available upon request. We have released this dataset to the public domain under a Creative Commons Zero waiver. We would appreciate it if you follow the INBO norms for data use (https://www.inbo.be/en/norms-data-use) when using the data. If you have any questions regarding this dataset, don't hesitate to contact us via the contact information provided in the metadata or via opendata@inbo.be. For all published Meetnetten.be datasets, see https://www.gbif.org/dataset/search?project_id=meetnetten.be

Meetnetten.be - Population counts for dragonflies in Flanders, Belgium is a sampling event dataset published by the Research Institute of Nature and Forest (INBO). It is part of the Meetnetten.be suite of monitoring networks for priority species in Flanders, in which data are collected at fixed locations using a standardized protocol (https://meetnetten.be). This dataset contains population counts for 6 priority dragonfly species (Yellow-spotted Whiteface - Leucorrhinia pectoralis, Northern Emerald- Somatochlora arctica, Spotted Darter - Sympetrum depressiusculum, Crescent Bluet- Coenagrion lunulatum,, Spearhead Bluet- Coenagrion hastulatum ). Here it is published as a standardized Darwin Core Archive and includes for each sampling event an eventID, date, location and sampling protocol (in the event core), the length of the transect (in the measurement or fact extension) and for each occurrence an occurrenceID, the number of recorded individuals, status (present/absent), life stage, sex, behaviour and scientific name (in the occurrence extension). Issues with the dataset can be reported at https://github.com/inbo/meetnetten-occurrences/issues Generalized and/or withheld information: as these are sensitive priority species, location information is generalized, in this dataset, to 5 or 10 km Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid cells. Original locations are available upon request. We have released this dataset to the public domain under a Creative Commons Zero waiver. We would appreciate it if you follow the INBO norms for data use (https://www.inbo.be/en/norms-data-use) when using the data. If you have any questions regarding this dataset, don't hesitate to contact us via the contact information provided in the metadata or via opendata@inbo.be. For all published Meetnetten.be datasets, see https://www.gbif.org/dataset/search?project_id=meetnetten.be

The Checklist of alien species in the Scheldt estuary in Flanders, Belgium is a species checklist dataset published by the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO). It contains information on 61 invertebrate alien species occurring in the Belgian Scheldt estuary, detected between 1835 and now. Here it is published as a standardized Darwin Core Archive and includes for each species: the scientific name, higher taxonomy, stable taxon ID (in the taxon core), the year of first introduction and/or last assessment in Flanders (given as a year or year range in the event date in the distribution extension), coarse habitat information (in the species profile extension) and the native range(s), pathway(s) of introduction and degree of establishment in Flanders (in the description extension). Issues with the dataset can be reported at https://github.com/trias-project/alien-scheldt-checklist We have released this dataset to the public domain under a Creative Commons Zero waiver. We would appreciate it if you follow the INBO norms for data use (https://www.inbo.be/en/norms-data-use) when using the data. If you have any questions regarding this dataset, don't hesitate to contact us via the contact information provided in the metadata or via opendata@inbo.be. This dataset was published as open data for the TrIAS project (Tracking Invasive Alien Species http://trias-project.be, Vanderhoeven et al. 2017), with technical support provided by the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO). It is selected as one of the authoritative sources for the compilation of a unified and reproducible checklist of alien species in Belgium.