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Des Néandertaliens à la troisième caverne de Goyet (Belgique) et leur gestes mortuaires.
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Contribution of stable isotopes (C,N,S) in collagen of late Pleistocene large mammal trophic ecology and landscape use: a case study in Goyet and Scladina cave (30-40,000 years BP)
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RBINS Staff Publications
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Phylogeography of the small equids
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Palaeolithic dogs at the Gravettian Předmosti site, CzechRepublic
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Mammoth hunting at the Epigravettian Yudinovo site (Russian Plain)
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RBINS Staff Publications
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A mammoth story - population mitogenomics of Eurasian woolly mammoths
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RBINS Staff Publications
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Versatility of marine geological databases in view of MSFD related assessments
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To ensure harmonised seabed mapping over large areas and to facilitate the exchange of information, a common geological knowledge base is being developed for the southern part of the North Sea. Data, sustaining this marine geological database, originate from a variety of sources, including the industry. Related to the seabed and its subsurface, two main databases are being compiled: one comprising all available lithological descriptions and one with all numerical grain-size information. To enable standardisation of the data and make them easily queryable, non-numerical descriptions are being coded to an international standard (EU FP7 Geo-Seas), of which the Udden-Wentworth scale is the main classifier. Several other parameters were derived, such as percentages mud, sand, gravel, shells and organic material. For the second database, cumulative grain-size distribution curves were compiled, enabling calculations of any desired granulometry parameter, such as percentages of the grain-size fractions (fine, medium, coarse sand) and percentiles that are relevant in seabed-habitat mapping or sediment-transport modelling (D35, D50, D84). To quantify data uncertainty in the derived data products, metadata on sampling and coring techniques, analytical methods, horizontal and vertical positioning accuracy and the exact timing of data acquisition were included. These metadata fields are also crucial in the quantification of habitat changes, a key issue in the assessment of good environmental status within Europe’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The newly developed database and its associated data products contribute to the objectives of the projects TILES (Belspo Brain-be), EMODnet-Geology (EU DG MARE), and ZAGRI (private revenues from the marine-aggregate industry).
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Molecular and morphological inference of cryptic species within Anentome wykoffi (Brandt, 1974) (Gastropoda: Nassariidae) from Thailand
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RBINS Staff Publications 2023 OA
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Monitoring the wild meat trade through DNA barcoding and pathogen screening of passenger-imported meat
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The INTERCEPT project maps the current situation of monitoring (exotic) animal product imports from third countries into Belgium, highlighting both the legal and illegal aspects of the trade and its implications for public and animal health. Recommendations are being drafted to move towards a more robust framework for long-term monitoring including a centralized database that integrates data from various federal services and agencies to gain a better overview of the trade and to promote the dissemination of crucial information among federal services, agencies, and stakeholders. The project also aims to introduce a secure and efficient sampling method for officials, along with a molecular species identification pipeline for researchers, which will enable rapid DNA-based identification of illegally imported meat. During this project, over 600 specimens have been sampled from intercepted meat from passenger’s luggage at Brussels Airport, of which more than 500 samples have so far been identified using DNA barcoding and screened for orthopoxviruses. Metagenomic DNA and RNA sequencing is ongoing for a selection of samples pooled per DNA-confirmed species, preparation method (raw vs. cooked), and, when possible, region of origin. By fostering collaboration among scientific institutions and federal agencies, this initiative aims to inform border control measures and will support future research into pathogens carried by both domestic and exotic meat, allowing better characterisation of the health risks associated with the illegal import of meat from third countries.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2025
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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
