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Proceedings Reference Integrated monitoring of nonpolar compounds with the use of Passive Samplers
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Proceedings Reference On best-practice for long-term observations of total suspended particulate matter
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Article Reference Well-preserved Eocene Aturia's from Boujdour, SW Morocco
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018
Article Reference Biodiversity hotspots of recent freshwater Ostracoda in Brazil
Brazil occupies almost half of the surface area of South America and covers different climatic zones, which leads to great ecological diversifications, forming distinct biogeographical areas or biomes. This reflects the megadiversity of Brazilian flora and fauna, including the high level of endemism. A literature review in 1994 recorded 260 species in 53 genera of recent non-marine ostracods from the South America (MARTENS & BEHEN, 1994). Of these, 91 species in 32 genera occurred in Brazil according to a 1998 checklist (MARTENS et al., 1998). Here, we present the results of recent inventories of freshwater ostracods from Brazil, including an overview of the geographical distribution of species. The expeditions of the PELD (Long-term Ecological Research Program in the Upper Paraná River Floodplain) and SISBIOTA (National Biodiversity Research System program - carried out in four Brazilian floodplains), increased these numbers to 133 species in 41 genera, including the descriptions of 31 new species in nine new genera (e.g. FERREIRA et al., 2020; ALMEIDA et al., 2023). The highest richness of ostracods has been found in the Atlantic Forest biome, which includes the upper Paraná River floodplain. The Amazon biome, where the Amazon floodplain is located, had the lowest diversity of ostracods but has also received much less attention in recent decades: the upper Paraná River floodplain has almost continuously been monitored since 2004, while only two (2011 and 2012), relatively short, collecting trips have been made in the Amazon floodplain. Thus, these results emphasize the relevance of long-term biodiversity monitoring studies. In addition, our results show that there is still little knowledge about the biodiversity of Brazilian ostracods, given that extensive areas remain unexplored.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2024
Article Reference Morphological, acoustic and genetic identification of a reproducing population of the invasive African clawed frog Xenopus laevis (Anura, Pipidae) recently discovered in Belgium
The African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) is an aquatic invasive species of amphibian imported from South Africa for medical research and aquarium pet trade. Released on purpose or by accident, an invasive spread of Xenopus laevis to natural ecosystems was registered on most continents. In the absence of natural predators, their population densities can increase quickly causing damage to local aquatic ecosystems. Using external morphology of adults and tadpoles, osteology from high-resolution microcomputed tomography, vocalization analysis and DNA sequence data, this study assessed the identity of a reproducing Belgian Xenopus population at the current northernmost edge of the distribution of the genus in Europe. Morphological analysis of adult and tadpoles confirms that the Xenopus population from Comines-Warneton belongs to the species Xenopus laevis. Genetic analysis indicates two phylogeographic lineages of South African origin invading France, one originating from northern South Africa and Rooikrantz Dam and the other originating from the southwestern Cape. Given the relative isolation of the Belgian pond, the abundance of Xenopus laevis in the pond, and the presence of tadpoles as well as subadults and large adults, it is certain that X. laevis has been present since several years. Most likely surrounding streams and ponds are also housing them and the area needs to be monitored closely in the future to prevent further spread. Citation: Pauwels, O.S.G., Brecko, J., Baeghe, D., Venderickx, J., Backeljau, T. & Vanderheyden, A. 2024. Morphological, acoustic and genetic identification of a reproducing population of the invasive African clawed frog Xenopus laevis (Anura, Pipidae) recently discovered in Belgium. Abstract 248 in: ICAIS 2024 Abstracts of Presentations. 23rd International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species, May 12-16, Halifax, Canada.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2024
Article Reference A SINGLE GENETIC POPULATION OVER 24,000 KM: The Unusual Cohesive Genetic Pattern in Abyssorchomene distinctus (Birsten & Vinogradov, 1960)
Cryptic diversity among deep-sea malacostracans is increasingly unveiled through molecular analyses, helping to reassess biodiversity in abyssal and hadal zones and establish baselines before inevitable mineral exploitation. Cryptic diversity, which is the presence of morphologically similar but genetically distinct lineages within what appears as a single species, is marked by genetic variation, structured populations, and high differentiation among geographically distant populations, often isolated over evolutionary timescales. Although cryptic diversity is prevalent in Lyssianassoidea amphipods, Abyssorchomene distinctus emerges as an exception. Analysing mitochondrial COI and nuclear 28S genes from 373 specimens across three ocean basins, we observed no cryptic diversity in A. distinctus. Instead, our results indicate a single, widely distributed population spanning ~24,000 km across the Southeastern Indian and Northeastern Pacific Oceans. Evidence includes a predominant ancestral haplotype in a star-shaped COI network, a skewed nucleotide mismatch distribution, and deviations from neutrality tests, all suggesting a unique population expansion event. This finding positions A. distinctus as one of only five known deep-sea amphipod species with confirmed wide cross-ocean distribution. To explore if this genetic pattern extends to other Lyssianassoidea amphipods, we are conducting similar analyses on Orchomenella pinguides, a circumpolar Antarctic species with minimal prior genetic characterization. Our preliminary study includes 48 specimens from the Ronne Ice Shelf, examining COI and 28S genes to assess genetic structure, cryptic diversity, and intra-specific variation. We plan to expand our sample size to compare genetic differentiation between populations from the Ronne Ice Shelf and publicly available COI sequences databases from the Australian Antarctic Territory, and Southeastern Filchner area in the Weddell Sea.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2024
Article Reference A new record of a paleogene cetacean (Basilosauridae, aff. Basilotritus) from the Sint Pietersberg, Maastricht, the Netherlands
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018
Conference Reference Assessment of the capacity of Halicarcinus planatus larva to reach the South Shetland Islands through passive dispersal
In the last 50 years, the anthropogenic activity and atmospheric temperature in the West Antarctic Peninsula have increased constantly, and consequently have facilitated the establishment of exotic species. Different populations of alien plant and insect species have been already recorded in the terrestrial Antarctic (e.g.Poa annua, Juncus bufoniusand Eretmoptera murphyi). In contrast, no alien marine species have been reported until now in Antarctic seawater, with the exception of a single ovigerous female of Halicarcinus pla-natusfound in the shallow waters of Deception Island in 2010 and reported in the scientific literature in 2015. Halicarcinus planatusis a small brachyuran crab living in shallow habitats, distributed in the southern South-America and in Sub-Antarctic islands (i.e. Prince Edward and Marion Islands, Crozet and Kerguelen Islands, Falkland Islandsand New Zealand). In the Sub-Antarctic islands, H. planatusis usually the unique crab species present in the shallow ecosystems. This species is able to live in cold Sub-Antarctic water mainly be-cause of its capacity to down-regulate Magnesium concentration ([Mg2+]) in the hemolymph below seawater concentration. Because of these physiological characteristics, together with a high potential of dispersal through a 45 to 60 days larva, H. planatushas beenhistorically considered as a potential invasor ofAntarctic shallow ecosystems.Here, the ability of H. planatuslarvae to be transported by water current from Sub-Antarctic to An-tarctic is evaluated through the Lagrangian particles approach and model-estimated ocean circulation. Model parameters were defined by the species characteristics (i.e. behavior, habitat preference and reproductive stra-tegy) and ecophysiology lab experiments. The survival rates of H. planatuswere measured for extreme tempe-ratures (between -1.8 and 5°C for adults and at 1, 2 and 5°C for larvae) and for salinity between 4 and 32 PSU (for only adults). Results showed that H. planatuscould survive at temperature above 1°C and salinity above 18 PSU. So that, larvae could reach Antarctic waters during summer, when temperatures are above 0°C.A possible larvae transport is from Diego Ramirez Island; it’s the last island from South America that in addi-tion is located very near of polar front and where H. planatuscan be found.Financial support: FONDECYT 1161358, Centro Fondap-IDEAL 15150003, INACH DG_14_17, FONDECYT 1160877, PIA CONICYT ACT172065. The collaborative Belgian BRAIN project: Refugia and ecosystem tolerance in the Southern Ocean (RECTO).
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2019
Article Reference Essai d'estimation de la stature de la population mérovingienne de Torgny
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Reconstruction of Belgian medieval populations diet using trace element analyses of bones
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications