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Launch of a new website on saproxylic beetles of Belgium
| Concerned URL | http://projects.biodiversity.be/beetles/ |
|---|---|
| Source | Belgian Biodiversity Platform |
| Release date | 12/04/2012 |
| Geographical coverage | Belgium, |
| Keywords | Beetles, forest biodiversity, entomology, |
The Belgian Biodiversity Platform has recently launched a new website on saproxylic beetles of Belgium. The website features distribution maps for 25.000 specimen records in Belgium of more than 300 saproxylic beetle species. Saproxylic beetles contribute to the decomposition of wood and play thus an important role in forest biodiversity and management. This new website supports management and conservation activities in Belgium.
The distribution data and maps are useful tools in the interpretation of species lists for future sampling campaigns, and can be used as a basis for focused sampling and monitoring of endangered or possibly extinct species.
These data will eventually prove a valuable contribution in the production of an IUCN Red List for selected Saproxylic Beetle families.
The maps are based on data preserved in the collections of the Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences (RBINS), the Royal Belgian Entomological Society (RBES), along with the collections of private individuals and those of RBINS research associates and entomologist amateurs.
The expected outcome is a complete actualized species list of the saproxylic beetles present in Belgium for which we have valid and traceable data at our disposal, with dynamic distribution map for each of them.
Distribution data and maps in general will be very useful tools to interpret species lists from future sampling campaigns, and to use them as a basis for focused sampling and monitoring of endangered or possibly extinct species.
Eventually, these data will also be a valuable help in producing a Red List for selected saproxylic beetle families (currently proposed by IUCN on a European scale).