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Misc Reference Rapid assessment protocol for surveying arboreal-nesting ant distribution in tropical forests.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Inproceedings Reference Rapid biological recovery following the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary catastrophe in the Maastrichtian type area
Present-day marine biotas are increasingly subject to anthropogenically-forced extinctions. The study of the global mass extinction event at the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary can aid in our understanding of the patterns of selective extinction and survival and the dynamics of ecosystem recovery. Outcrops in the Maastrichtian type region (The Netherlands, Belgium) comprise an expanded K-Pg boundary succession, presenting a unique opportunity to study marine ecosystem recovery within the first thousands of years following the Chicxulub impact. We have reevaluated and studied the palynological, micro- and macropalaeontological record of this unique succession. Ecosystem changes across the K-Pg boundary in this region are rather limited, showing a general shift from epibenthic filter feeders to shallow-endobenthic deposit feeders. The fauna of the lowermost Paleocene still has many ‘Maastrichtian’ characteristics, a biological assemblage that survived the first hundreds to thousands of years into the earliest Paleocene. The shallow-marine oligotrophic carbonate sea of the Maastrichtian type area as inhabited by starvation-resistant, low nutrient-adapted taxa, that were seemingly less affected by the shortlived detrimental conditions of the K-Pg boundary catastrophe, such as darkness, cooling, food-starvation, ocean acidification, resulting in relatively high survival rates. The high survival rate allowed for a fast recolonization and rapid recovery of marine faunas in the Maastrichtian type area.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2019
Inproceedings Reference Rapid divergence in morphology, physiology and behaviour among island populations of lizards.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Inproceedings Reference RAPID ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSES TO ABRUPT CLIMATE CHANGE DURING THE LATE-GLACIAL IN THE MOERVAART AREA (NW BELGIUM), WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE PALYNOMORPH RECORDS
Due to the availibility of high-quality lacustrine sediment records, the Moervaart depression in northwestern Belgium is a very suitable region from which to assess environmental responses to abrupt climate change during the late-glacial (ca. 14,5 – 11,5 ka cal BP). Multiple-proxy analyses of physical parameters (bulk sediment composition and magnetic susceptibility) and biotic remains (palynomorphs, plant macroremains, diatoms, freshwater molluscs, ostracods and chironomids) resulted in a considerable amount of valuable data concerning the climate and palaeoenvironment in this region. The climatic cycles observed in the late-glacial significantly affected the local vegetation and water shed. The milder Bølling interstadial (ca. 14,5-14,1 ka cal BP), characterized by shallow swamps and an open vegetation of mainly birch, grasses, willow and juniper, was abruptly interrupted by a short cold phase, the Older Dryas (ca. 14,1-13,8 ka cal BP), in which a dry and open grass tundra occurred. Based on the presence of Gloeotrichia colonies, known as nitrogen fixers, it is suggested that during the Older Dryas these cyanobacteria created more favourable conditions for aquatic plants to colonize the swampy areas. During the successive Allerød interstadial (ca. 13,8-12,6 ka cal BP), a shallow, large palaeolake with submerged vegetation (e.g., Nymphaea and Myriophyllum) developed, whereas a more dense birch forest (1st phase), accompanied by pine (2nd phase), was continuously present in the surroundings. Extreme cold climatic conditions during the Younger Dryas (ca. 12,6-11,5 ka cal BP), however, caused major hydrological changes, originating in the development of an east-west trending palaeochannel system across the (nearly-)desiccated lake area. In summary, our results clearly demonstrate strong and rapid environmental responses to abrupt climate change at the last glacial-interglacial transition in the Moervaart area.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Inproceedings Reference Rapid Local Adaptations in an Invasive Frog (Xenopus laevis): the Importance of Functional Trait Measurements to Predict Future Invasions
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2020
Article Reference Rapid Speciation in host lineage my lead to adaptive evolution of parasites stress response genes in monopisthocotylan flatworms
Stress responses are key for parasite survival and, thus, also the evolutionary success of these organisms. However, a strong bias in parasite genomic research towards few human pathogens results in a lack of knowledge on evolutionary diversification mechanisms. Comparative studies of closely related and functionally similar lineages are the key for understanding factors driving adaptive evolution of stress responses. To address this knowledge gap, we contrasted evolutionary patterns of several antioxidant, heat shock, osmoregulatory, and behaviour-related genes in two fish parasitic flatworm lineages with varying species and ecological diversity, Cichlidogyrus and Kapentagyrus (Monopisthocotyla). We assembled the sequences of 48 genes related to stress responses in 11 species through an in-silico exon bait capture approach, applied phylogenetic reconstruction and tested for signatures of selection. The study also reports the first foraging (For) gene orthologs in flatworms. Additionally, the absence of cytochrome P450 (Cyp) and kappa (Gstk) and sigma-class glutathione S-transferases (Gsts) in monopisthocotylan flatworms is reported, genes typically considered essential for metazoan life. The results reveal copy number differences in heat shock (Hsp) and oxidative stress genes between the two parasite lineages potentially linked to the diversity of ecological niches occupied by their respective host taxa. Positive selection is detected in genes related to mitochondrial protein import (Hsp) and behaviour (For) in species of Cichlidogyrus infecting a host lineage under adaptive radiation (East African cichlids), suggesting an adaptive link to a putative co-radiation of parasites and hosts. Therefore, the study identifies the first potential molecular function linked to a flatworm radiation.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Inproceedings Reference RAPTORS AS A RESOURCE: NEW INSIGHTS INTO MIDDLE AND UPPER PALEOLITHIC BIRD USE AT WALOU CAVE (BELGIUM) BY NEANDERTHALS AND MODERN HUMANS
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Proceedings Reference Rare Earth Elements and Sr-Isotopic Geochemistry: Tools to Determinate the Geological and Geographical Origins of Neolithic Fluorites [S14]
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Rare sex or ancient asexual ?
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Inproceedings Reference Reaching for new heights: canopy laser scanning in the Peruvian Amazon
Large trees are vital for the functioning of tropical forests. They house a wide range of organisms, making them true biodiversity hotspots and play a key role in forest biomass storage.The Life On Trees (LOT) project is a research program in which all eukaryotic organisms on individual trees are surveyed, including plants, fungi, animals and protists. One of the goals of the research program is to explore the link between the distribution of the occurring organisms and the tree architecture of those large trees. To accurately quantify the structure of such trees and investigate the interplay between the tree and its surroundings, terrestrial laser scanning is currently used as a state-of-the-art technology. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) generally uses a laser scanner to scan trees from multiple viewpoints from the ground. In dense tropical forests, the tree canopy often reaches a height of 50 m or more. Due to the large distance between the scanner and the tree crown, even the best laser scanners have difficulty getting a clear view of the top of the canopy. For those large, colossal trees, data is limited and suffers a lot of occlusion. Since all scans are taken from the ground, data on the upperpart of branches is nonexistent. To assess this limitation of TLS, we explore how much additional 3D information is gained from the tree structure by collecting 3D scans inside the tree crown. With the aid of professional climbers, we lifted a RIEGL vz-400 laser scanner into a Dussia tree in Rio Abiseo National park located in the Peruvian Amazon. The selected tree is quite spectacular, it reaches a height of 50 m and a width of 45 m, and is covered with vegetation including many orchids and epiphytes hosting a wide variety of life forms. The first results of this project will be presented, focusing on the tree architecture with its impressive volume and branch length, and the benefits and challenges of scanning inside the tree crown.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022