Almost nothing is known about the evolution of shell colour in invertebrates. This is largely due to the ultra-rarity of fossils in which colour patterns and pigments are preserved and immediately visible, and therefore easy to identify, especially when these are hundreds of millions of years old. This hampers our understanding of the role and function of colour in extinct animals, their ecology, mode of life, interactions, development, and evolution. A good example for this ultra-rarity is the Palaeozoic of Belgium, world-renowned for its exquisitely preserved fossils of the Devonian and Carboniferous, enabling to document major transitions in ecosystem dynamics and the evolution of life on Earth (e.g. nekton revolution, terrestrialisation, major climate changes, anoxic events, biodiversity crises) but from which only a few cephalopod, bivalve and gastropod mollusc and brachiopod shells were historically documented preserving coloured traces (mostly by L.-G. de Koninck and P. de Ryckholt, mid to late 19th century). However, recently, it was discovered that many more specimens preserve these traces, in particular those from Tournaisian–Viséan shallow marine reef environments, allowing to investigate its occurrence in different evolutionary lineages of marine invertebrates exactly during one of the main periods of revolution in geologic history. In Brain project B2/P233/P2 nicknamed COLOURINPALAEO financed by Belspo, after gathering all the specimens available in the main Belgian collections, we use different techniques (multispectral photogrammetry and spectro-imaging) to better visualise the preserved colour patterns and pigments. Furthermore, advanced spectroscopic techniques, namely Raman micro-probe spectroscopy, synchrotron trace elemental mapping and absorption spectroscopy, are used to identify the chemical signature of the pigments as well as their mode and pathways of preservation. Some of the first results on this multidisciplinary study on a unique set of Belgian fossils will be presented.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2024
Based on the current spread of exotic mosquito species (EMS) in Europe, the number of interceptions in Belgium and suitability models developed for Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in Europe, EMS are likely to establish and spread in Belgium. A prerequisite for their control is their early detection. Therefore, the Belgian federal authorities and the federated entities funded a 3-year active monitoring project (MEMO) (July 2017–June 2020). The aims are early detection of EMS in Belgium, quantifying locally established EMS populations, evaluating the EMS import risk at possible points of entry (PoE), expand reference collections and make recommendations for a future, long-term, cost-effective EMS monitoring plan in Belgium. Monitoring activities are implemented at 23 PoE using adult trapping with CO2 and lure traps, egg sampling with oviposition traps and larval sampling with dipping nets. DNA barcoding is used to validate morphological identifications and to expand the DNA reference database. Specimens are also added to the morphological reference collection at Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. Since July 2017, four EMS were intercepted. The colonised area of Ae. koreicus (Edwards) in Belgium increased from 7 to 113 km2. Aedes japonicus (Theobald) was detected again in southern Belgium, from where it was thought to be eliminated. This species has now also been collected on the border with Germany. Anopheles pharoensis (Theobald) entered Belgium via cargo transport. Aedes albopictus was intercepted at four PoE. To conclude, EMS are effectively entering and spreading in Belgium and appropriate control management strategies on the national level are urgently required.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2018
In July 2017, a three year monitoring project (MEMO) aiming at detecting and evaluating the occurrence and invasion phase of exotic mosquitoes (EMS) in Belgium started. Adult traps and ovitraps were placed and larval sampling was conducted at 23 locations. These locations were selected based on their high potential of introducing EMS. DNA-based techniques are used to verify the morphological identification of 5% of the collected mosquito specimens. In 2017, 2622 adult mosquitoes, 2916 larvae and 650 eggs were collected. In total 15 species (or complexes) belonging to 5 genera (Aedes, Anopheles, Culex, Culiseta and Coquillettidia) were identified. Morphological and DNAbased identifications were in agreement. Furthermore, DNA sequence data confirmed that adults of the Anopheles maculipennis complex were Anopheles messeae and that both Culex pipiens biotype pipiens and biotype molestus were collected. Culiseta longiareolata was for the first time observed in Belgium. EMS made up 2% of all collected specimens. Three EMS, Aedes japonicus, Aedes koreicus and Anopheles pharoensis were intercepted in 2017. In the first six months of 2018, Aedes albopictus was intercepted at four locations. Previous monitoring projects indicated that Aedes mosquitoes entered Belgium via import of lucky bamboo plants and of tyres. New for Belgium is the interception of Aedes albopictus and Aedes japonicus along the border with France and Germany, respectively. And the interception of Anopheles pharoenis in a cargo airport. In the first case, a possible natural spread from these countries may have occurred. In this perspective, the understanding of the invasion process of the three exotic Aedes species, based on field observations and population genetics, will provide information on their invasion phase (introduction, establishment or spread) and seasonality which will be essential to guide surveillance and control.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2018
