Occurrence dataset Registered May 19, 2025

    EcoCertified: A cameraTrap survey in solar field and control grasslands

    Tavernier C • de Vries S • Marmara A • Willers H • Tavernier D

    Description

    These camera trap datasets are derived from the Agouti project EcoC Inventory 2022 - Impact of photovoltaic park in the Netherlands and EcoC Inventory 2024 - Impact of photovoltaic park in the Netherlands. Data have been standardized to Darwin Core using the camtraptor R package and only include observations (and associated media) of animals. Excluded are records that document blank or unclassified media, vehicles, and observations of humans. Geospatial coordinates are rounded to 0.001 degrees. The original dataset description follows. EcoC Inventory 2022/2024 - Impact of photovoltaic park in the Netherlands are occurrence dataset published by Wageningen University and Research (WUR), which was funded by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency under grant number MOOI22004 and is part of the EcoCertified Solar Parks project. Both data sets are monitoring of the effect of solar fields on species in solar fields, extensive meadow controls, and intensive grassland controls. Data were collected by the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation chair group. The cameras used are all Reconix HF2X. All species were annotated to the species level if possible; if not genus level was accepted. The inventory happened in 15 solar fields with their paired controls, an extensive and an intensive grassland. AI (MegaDetector V6) was used to annotate blank pictures only.

    Purpose

    The impact of solar fields on farmland species is uncertain. They may threaten local species by reducing habitat quality, but they could also enhance landscape heterogeneity and thus biodiversity. The purpose of this study was to compare the biodiversity within solar fields and two control fields: an intensive grassland from a dairy farm and an extensive meadow managed to increase biodiversity.

    Geographic scope

    Description

    The Netherlands

    Latitude
    From 51.138 to 53.527
    Longitude
    From 3.582 to 7.053

    Temporal scope

    range
    April 01, 2022 - December 01, 2022
    range
    April 01, 2024 - December 01, 2024

    Methodology

    Sampling

    A block-plot design was applied (15 block and 3 plot per block). Locations were selected based on access permission given by the solar field asset manager. The cameras were set up at 40 cm above the ground and took 3 to 5 picture by detection with a 30s interval between two detections. Once a month, the cameras were moved around the fields to avoid over- or under-sampling the fields due to micro-habitat features. Images were collected from the camera traps and uploaded to Agouti. Students and project members annotated the pictures on agouti.

    Study extent

    15 locationscomprising 15 solar fields and 30 controls, in the Netherlands were sampled using 80 camera traps (2 in each field). The cameras were randomly placed in the field and moved around once a month.

    Method steps
    1. Randomly selecttwo points in each field 100 m awaySet-up the camera with a unique identifierParameter the trigger: 10 pictures, no quiet period, high sensitivity, a wide range of view, and 24 hours of activityPlace the camera 40 cm (knee height) from the ground.Calibrate the camera using a 1 m stick marked every 10 cm by taking 15 pictures at different points in front of the cameraParameter the trigger: three pictures, a quiet period of 30 seconds, high sensitivity, a wide range of view, and 24 hours of activityLeave the camera for at least three weeksCollect the pictures and move the cameras 50 m from their previous locationUpload the camera on Agouti, use the AI to annotate the blanks, annotate pictures

    Metrics

    Contacts

    • Chloé Tavernier

      Originator
      Organization
      Wageningen University and Research
      Roles
      Originator
    • Sylvia de Vries

      Originator
      Organization
      University of Groningen
      Roles
      Originator
    • Aliki Marmara

      Originator
      Roles
      Originator
    • Hanna Willers

      Originator
      Roles
      Originator
    • Dimitri Tavernier

      Originator
      Roles
      Originator
    • Chloe Tavernier

      Author
      Organization
      Wageningen University and Research
      Roles
      Author
      Email
    • Rascha Nuijten

      Administrative point of contact
      Organization
      Wageningen University and Research
      Roles
      Administrative point of contact
    • Ralph Buij

      Administrative point of contact
      Organization
      Wageningen University and Research
      Roles
      Administrative point of contact
    • Karen Krijgveld

      Administrative point of contact
      Organization
      Wageningen University and Research
      Roles
      Administrative point of contact
    • Frank van Langevelde

      Administrative point of contact
      Organization
      Wageningen University and Research
      Roles
      Administrative point of contact
    • Chloé Tavernier

      Administrative point of contact
      Organization
      Wagneningen University and Research
      Roles
      Administrative point of contact
      Email

    GBIF registration

    Registration date
    May 19, 2025
    Metadata last modified
    May 19, 2025
    Publication date
    May 19, 2025
    Hosted by
    Netherlands Biodiversity Information Facility (NLBIF)
    Installation
    NLBIF IPT
    Endpoints
    Darwin Core Archive
    EML
    Preferred identifier
    10.15468/m9b3e4
    Alternative identifiers

    Citation

    Tavernier C, de Vries S, Marmara A, Willers H, Tavernier D (2025). EcoCertified: A cameraTrap survey in solar field and control grasslands. Wageningen Environmental Research. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/m9b3e4 accessed via GBIF.org on 2025-08-12.