Dataflows in support of cross-border management of muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) and coypu (Myocastor coypus) : the LIFE MICA approach

Effective cross-border management of invasive alien species is dependent on robust data sharing among responsible authorities. This need is particularly pronounced for species like aquatic rodents, such as muskrat and coypu, which rely on interconnected hydrographic networks for dispersal. The LIFE MICA project sought to enhance crossborder cooperation between the Netherlands, Germany (Lower Saxony), and Belgium (Flanders) by centralising data on the occurrence and management of invasive alien rodents. Project partners from seven institutions collaborated to develop innovative detection and management methods, such as smart camera trapping, eDNA analysis, and smart life traps for muskrat and coypu. Prior to the LIFE MICA project, management and occurrence data for muskrats and coypus in a substantial part of northwest Europe were fragmented in isolated data repositories. To address this issue, the project adopted an open data approach based on the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), resulting in the publication of nearly one million new muskrat and coypu observations dating from 1987 to the present day. This initiative represents a significant step towards improved collaboration and data sharing in the management of invasive alien rodents across a wide geographic area in northwestern mainland Europe.