Aanvulling database Ecologische condities (KB-24-004-004, KB-14-011-046)

Since 1993 the ecological conditions database (EC database) has been filled with data on vegetation relevés accompanied by soil measurements. The database nowadays contains over 10,000 relevés with measured abiotic data (mostly soil pH). The database contains information about over 50 different soil parameters, besides info on pH also about groundwater table and moist content, all kinds of nutrients (e.g. NO3, PO4, Ca, Mg, K), heavy metals chloride content of the soil and so on. Based on the database indicator values for abiotic parameters were estimated applying splines. Besides, optima (the indicator values) also the range of occurrence is estimated. The latter is not only done for plant species but also for vegetation types, associations, habitat types and the Dutch ‘beheertypen’ system.

The database is also used as the base for the new model PROPS that estimates the chance of occurrence of plant species given a set of abiotic parameters. This model will be the follow up of the MOVE model, used since the late ‘70ties of the last century.

In this project the database will be extended with new relevés accompanied by soil measurements, e.g. data from the NGO ‘Natuurmonumenten’. At the end of the collection new response curves will be estimated based on the extended database for plant species, associations, habitat types and beheertypen. The website www.abiotic.wur.nl will be updated with the newest information and thus made available to the scientific community. The article about the abiotic ranges of invasive species will be finished.