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In-Situ Multispectral Investigation of the Biogeochemistry of the Geldingadalir Lava Field
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Scientific payload demonstration in volcanic environments for astrobiological research understanding microbial colonization of fresh basalt. The volcanic eruption in at Geldingadalir (Iceland) in 2021 is an ideal analog site for studying the biogeochemistry of volcanism on other planetary bodies, both those with active (e.g. Io) and extinct (e.g. Mars) volcanic systems. The recent eruption enables comparative studies between the "fresh" lava field at Geldingadalir and older, inactive lava fields present throughout Iceland. Studying these systems provides insight into (1) the conditions necessary for microorganisms or other biotic materials to colonize barren environments and (2) how life transforms its environment over time. These investigations, while interesting in their own right for characterizing the biogeochemical diversity of Iceland's landscapes, have implications beyond Earth in the search for extant or extinct life in our solar system. To simulate planetary exploration missions, we deployed a suite of four handheld, low-SWaP (size, weight, and power), ruggedized spectroscopic instruments to enable in-situ investigation of the lava fields. We deployed a gamma ray spectrometer and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) probe for macroscopic and microscopic (respectively) assessment of the elemental composition of the natural samples; we used an ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence imager to investigate organic signatures present on the natural surfaces; and finally, we used a near-infrared (NIR) reflectance spectrometer for determining mineralogy and identifying hydrated bonding structures. These complementary measurement techniques enable a wholistic study of a samples' biogeochemistry and have a direct path for mission infusion in planetary science, as various embodiments of these spectroscopic techniques have been used to study planetary surfaces for decades. We collected co-registered spectroscopic measurements with all four instruments on several samples throughout the Geldingadalir lava field and at a control (i.e. inactive) field nearby. Additionally, we surveyed >10 surface and subsurface features throughout the lava field with one or more of the instruments. At the conclusion of this field campaign, we had collected >1000 UV fluorescence images, 10s of NIR reflectance and LIBS spectra, and >10 gamma ray measurements. Along with this, samples from the fresh and inactive lava fields were taken back to the lab for further investigation of microbial diversity using laboratory instrumentation.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2022
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In-situ U-Th dating of speleothems by LA-MC-ICP-MS – preliminary results.
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RBINS Staff Publications
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Including the observed effect of microbiological activities in a flocculation model
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RBINS Staff Publications 2016
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Incorporating data uncertainty in 3D voxel modelling and the importance in decision making
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Geological databases resulting from the merging of various data sources and time periods jeopardize harmonization of data products. Data standardization is already common practice and a first step in avoiding semantic overlap. European marine data management infrastructures provide such standards, e.g., Geo-Seas (http://www.geo-seas.eu/) for geological data and SeaDataNet (https://www.seadatanet.org/) for marine metadata in general. In addition, metadata quality control is important, though data uncertainty is seldom quantified and to be used in modelling. Preliminary uncertainty analyses were worked out to provide an extra dimension to the cross-border 3D voxel models of the geological subsurface of the Belgian and southern Netherlands part of the North Sea (http://odnature.naturalsciences.be/tiles/). Starting from simple quality flagging in geological databases and model uncertainty calculations (probability and entropy) in the 3D modelling, data uncertainty (e.g., related to qualities in positioning, sampling and vintage) is now quantified. Combining all uncertainties remains a challenge, as well as communicating their importance in decision making. A demonstration will be given on the status of the uncertainty analyses and how these are incorporated in a newly developed decision support tool allowing interactive querying of the 3D voxel model, now comprising geological, as well as entropy, probability and data uncertainty attributes (figure 1).
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RBINS Staff Publications 2018
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Increased densities of the bio-irrigator Lanice conchilega affect composition and diversity of nosZ transcripts.
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The presence of the piston-pumping polychaete Lanice conchilega can induce short term oscillations in oxygen and nitrate availability at deeper sediment layers, affecting the functional properties of local microbial communities. Here, we investigated the effect of Lanice conchilega densities on the expression of the nosZ gene, a gene encoding for the enzymes involved in the last step (reduction of N2O) of the denitrification pathway. Sediments with “high” , “low” and no Lanice individuals were collected from the intertidal and incubated submerged (reflecting the high water tide) in the lab, to measure vertical oxygen profiles and oxygen oscillations during 35 minutes at 1.5 mm sediment depth before slicing the sediment, and extracting RNA for Illumina sequencing the nosZ gene. We found 502 unique amino acid sequences (“nosZ-UAT), only 21 of them were abundant (>1% relative abundance). nosZ-AUT based community analyses showed that high densities of Lanice significantly affected the nosZ transcript composition. In addition, higher variability was observed in the high density treatments as well. Further differences were observed between the top layer of the sediment (0-0.5 cm) and the investigated deeper layers. The difference in nosZ-AUT Shannon diversity between deeper sediment layers and the upper sediment layer increased with Lanice density. The observed differences in nosZ-AUT composition and diversity at small horizontal (m) and vertical (cm) scale can thus be attributed to differences in bio-irrigator densities. We hypothese that this due to stronger oscillations of both O2 and NO3- availability in the presence of high densities of bio-irrigators. Oscillations of O2 concentrations at a single spot in otherwise anoxic environments create microhabitats where coupled nitrification-denitrification is possible, while providing the environment with NO3- provides substrate for denitrification. As such, the presence of high densities of bio-irrigators increase the effect of already reported tide-related redox oscillations during periods of submersion.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2017
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Increasing detections of the invasive mosquito Aedes albopictus in Belgium
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Aedes albopictus is an invasive mosquito species expanding its territory in Europe, posing a health risk as the species is a competent vector of dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus. In European countries autochthonous transmission of these viruses are reported in localities where the species is established. In Belgium the introduction of Ae. albopictus was first monitored through active surveillance at Points of Entry (PoEs). Since 2018, the increased observation of Ae. albopictus at parking lots located along the highways suggested a rise in introduction through route traffic. Hence, in 2022, a passive surveillance based on citizen science was implemented to complement the active surveillance and expand the coverage of the monitoring countrywide. We present the current situation for Ae. albopictus in Belgium based on the results of both active and passive surveillance. Via an online platform (web/app), citizens uploaded pictures of potential Ae. albopictus specimens after answering filtering questions about morphological characteristics of the mosquito related to its size, color and stripes on the hind legs. Subsequently, pictures were then analysed to determine whether or not it is Ae. albopictus. When Ae.albopictus was confirmed on the picture, a field inspection was performed. This inspection included larval sampling and the set-up of ten oviposition traps for one or two weeks around the notification point. Additionally, in 2022 and 2023, ten oviposition traps were set-up at eight parking lots between May and October. In 2023, a longitudinal surveillance was also implemented to monitor overwintering and potential spread at two locations where the presence of Ae. albopictus was confirmed in 2022. In 2024, overwintering monitoring happened through larval sampling at four locations where Ae. albopictus was detected in 2023. DNA-based validation of all life stages of Ae. albopictus collected during field visits from several locations was performed to validate the identification of the species, and to investigate the haplotype composition of the population. We received 12 notifications of Ae. albopictus from citizens from nine locations in 2022, 29 from 15 new locations in 2023 and 47 from 12 new locations in 2024. Overall, Ae. albopictus was detected at 36 locations in Belgium over these three years. Further, the exotic species was detected in 2022 at three, and in 2023 at seven parking lots. Longitudinal surveillance in 2023 confirmed the presence of Ae. albopictus at two locations, indicating local establishment and overwintering. In 2024, overwintering was confirmed at another three locations. Prior to 2022, Aedes albopictus was in the early stage of its invasion process in Belgium, with confirmed occurrences limited to PoEs. Since 2022, the implementation of citizen surveillance has led to a steep increase in detections, including in residential areas, alongside numerus findings at parking lots. Additionally, the confirmation of overwintering at five locations, indicates that the species is being increasingly imported into Belgium via ground vehicular traffic and has become locally established in recent years.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2025
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Inferences on dog domestication - genetic analysis of the most ancient dogs utilizing DNA capture arrays
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RBINS Staff Publications
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Inferring species limits in facultatively autogamous slugs and snails: a problem with too many solutions?
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RBINS Staff Publications
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Influence of an urbanization gradient on the vertical stratification of arboreal ants in green areas
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EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT TAXONOMIC LEVELS AS SURROGATES OF ANT DIVERSITY IN GREEN AREAS IN AN URBANIZED ENVIRONMENT E. B. A. KOCH1, T. S. MELO2,3,4, A. R. S. ANDRADE2,3, M. LEPONCE5 & J. H. C. DELABIE2,4 1Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana (UEFS), CEP: 44.036-900 - Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil, e-mail: elmoborges@gmail.com; 2Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; 3Centro de Ecologia e Conservação Animal, Universidade Católica do Salvador (UCSal), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; 4Laboratório de Mirmecologia, Convênio Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC)/Comissão Executiva do Plano da Lavoura Cacaueira (CEPLAC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil; 5Biodiversity Monitoring & Assessment, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), Bruxelas, Belgium. In cities located in environments of high biological importance, urbanization leads to changes in biotic diversity, while monitoring these changes can be difficult. Studies have pointed to the use of metrics that replace species as an alternative. Surrogate models are easily determined measures of biodiversity that correlate strongly with species richness and with what you want to investigate, being useful for detecting or monitoring environmental changes. The use of higher taxonomic levels has been applied to groups of megadiverse organisms, such as arthropods, since difficulties in identifying species are predictable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the practicality of using taxonomic diversity of ants as a surrogate of green area coverage in an urban environment. Four levels of "surrogate resolutions" (subfamily, genus, indicator taxa, and intermediate resolution) were assessed to the taxonomic diversity of ants across three levels of urban green areas (Small = 0 to 35%
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RBINS Staff Publications 2023
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Influence of aridity and soil on the distribution and diversity of ant assemblages and dominant plant
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RBINS Staff Publications
