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Article Reference Fitness-heterozygosity associations differ between male and female winter moths Operophtera brumata L.
The association between heterozygosity and fitness is positive but weak on average and varies between studies. inbreeding has been invoked as the driving force between the positive heterozygosity-fitness associations, yet in spatio-temporally stable environments a negative correlation is expected. Furthermore, different patterns can arise because of the effects of natural selection on different loci and variation can be expected among groups of individuals that experience different levels of stress. In this paper we report on fitness-heterozygosity associations in the winter moth for six allozyme loci. The relationship is estimated for males and females separately, in four areas differing in their degree of fragmentation, and variation among loci is modelled. We introduce a linear mixed model framework to achieve this analysis. This approach differs from more traditional (multiple) regression analyses and allows testing specific interactions. We show that fitness, as estimated by body size, is negatively correlated with heterozygosity, but only so in females. This association does not vary significantly among loci and the four areas. We speculate that a trade-off between fitness-consequences of inbreeding and outbreeding at different stages of the winter moth life cycle could explain the observed patterns.
Located in Associated publications / Belgian Journal of Zoology / Bibliographic References
Article Reference Five new species of Candoninae (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from the alluvial valley of the Upper Paraná River (Brazil, South America)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Five New Species of Homoscleromorpha (Porifera) from the Caribbean Sea
Five new species of Homoscleromorpha (Porifera) of four genera, Oscarella, Plakortis, Plakina and Corticium, are described from vertical walls of reef caves at depths ranging from 23 to 28 m in the Caribbean Sea. Oscarella nathaliae sp. nov. has a leaf-like thinly encrusting, flat body, loosely attached to the substrate and a perforated, not lobate surface. Oscarella nathaliae sp. nov. contains two bacterial morphotypes and is characterized by two mesohylar cell types with inclusions. Plakortis myrae sp. nov. has diods of two categories: abundant large ones (83–119 mm long) and rare small ones (67–71 mm long) with sinuous, S-bent centres; triods Y- or T-shaped (18–5 mm long), and abundant microrhabds (5–12 mm long). Plakortis edwardsi sp. nov. has diods of one category with thick, sinuous, S-bent centres (110 to 128 mm long); triods T-shaped (actines 28–59 mm long). It is the only species of this genus showing small diods (22–31 mm long). Plakortis dariae sp. nov. has diods of two categories: large ones (67–112 mm long) and small, rare, irregular ones, slightly curved, often deformed with one end blunt (30–59 mm long); triods rare and regular (actines 20–44 mm long long). Corticium diamantense sp. nov. has oscula situated near its border, regular non-lophose calthrops of one size class, very rare tetralophose calthrops and candelabra with the fourth actine ramified basally in 4–5 microspined rays. In addition, a re-description of Plakina jamaicensis Lehnert & van Soest 1998 is based on newly collected material and the type specimen. P. jamaicensis has a convoluted brainlike surface; well developed sub-ectosomal cavities; irregular sinuous diods, triods, calthrops, rare monolophose calthrops, rare dilophose calthrops, rare trilophose calthrops and common tetralophose calthrops. Molecular ‘barcoding’ sequences for mitochondrial cob are given for Plakortis edwardsi sp. nov., P. dariae sp. nov., Plakina jamaicensis and Corticium diamantense sp. nov. An identification key for all western Atlantic Homoscleromorpha is provided.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Flabellopteris lococannensis gen. et sp. nov.: A new fern-like plant from the Famennian of South Africa
A new fossil plant, Flabellopteris lococannensis Gess and Prestianni gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Famennian of South Africa. This plant is interpreted as monopodial in habit with a first order axis that only occasionally dichotomizes. The lateral organs (both branches and appendages) are borne spirally on all branching orders and a 1/3 organotaxy is suggested. The first order axes bear both second order axes and fertile appendages at the same nodes. Axes of the second and third branching orders bear appendages made of several isotomous dichotomies. Recurved paired sporangia are borne on dichotomizing appendages that are like the vegetative appendages. The plant bears some similarity to the Iridopteridales but also to the Late Devonian Rhacophytales and to the Lower Carboniferous fernlike plant Chlidanophyton dublinensis. The architecture of the plant is briefly discussed and its implication on the evolution of the frond is considered.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022
Article Reference Flandrian, a formation or just a name?
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Flint formation and astronomical pacing in the Maastrichtian chalk of northwestern Europe
In Upper Cretaceous chalk sequences, the widespread occurrence of flint, as well as a possible astronomical pacing of their often-encountered rhythmic distribution, remains poorly constrained. The Campanian-Maastrichtian Hallembaye chalk succession (Maastrichtian type area, northeast Belgium) is characterized by the gradual evolution from no flint bands at its base to the regular presence of well-developed flint bands at its top. Here, the Hallembaye section is investigated to gain more insights into the underlying processes behind flint inception. A relationship is found between the amount of detrital material (i.e., clays) present in the chalk and flints, and the extent of silicification and flint development. Several astronomical cycles are identified within the succession using both a lithology-based flint proxy and high-resolution μXRF-based element data from chalk samples. A combined imprint of precession and obliquity is documented in the chalk Ti/Al profile. The flint bands display a predominant obliquity imprint with an increasing contribution of precession and eccentricity up-section. Two consistent stratigraphically integrated astronomical age models are preferred. The first model is a floating age model that is based on the minimal tuning of the short obliquity cycle in the Ti/Al signal. The second model is a numerical age model that is based on flint occurrences, tuned to a combined tuning target consisting of both the inclination and long eccentricity metronomes. Temporal variations in the hydrological cycle and consequent changes in eolian, fluvial and dissolved Si input to the European Basin appear astronomically controlled. In addition, flint nodules and bands are paced by Milankovitch timescales, reflecting astronomical control on the Si cycle and paleoenvironmental conditions governing conditions favorable towards flint formation.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Article Reference Flocculation dynamics of suspended particulate matter under various tidal conditions
Understanding the flocculation dynamics of suspended particulate matter is essential for a comprehensive understanding of sediment transport in estuarine and coastal ecosystems. Field observations were conducted during both spring and neap tidal cycles at two contrasting sites, the highly turbulent, low-salinity Xuliujing site of the Yangtze River estuary, and the weakly turbulent, high-salinity Belgian coastal station MOW1. The two sites exhibited different flocculation dynamics and floc size distributions (FSDs). At Xuliujing, strong river discharge and pronounced ebb dominance intensified turbulent shear, making the fragmentation of flocs the governing process. This resulted in multimodal FSDs with high proportions of microflocs (∼13 μm) and macroflocs (∼55 μm). In contrast, at MOW1, high salinity and relatively weak, symmetric tidal currents favored salt-enhanced aggregation, resulting in larger, more stable flocs and more uniform FSDs. These contrasts indicate that in freshwater environments, turbulence controls both aggregation and breakup, whereas in saline waters, salinity governs aggregation and turbulence primarily limits the maximum size of flocs. Furthermore, a one-dimensional vertical hydrodynamic model coupled with a population balance flocculation model demonstrated satisfactory accuracy in simulating current velocities, suspended particulate matter concentrations, and FSDs at both sites, showing its capability to capture flocculation dynamics under different environmental conditions.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2026
Article Reference Flocculation with heterogeneous composition in water environments: A review
Flocculation is a key process for controlling the fate and transport of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in water environments and has received considerable attention in the field of water science (e.g., oceanography, limnology, and hydrology), remaining an active area of research. The research on flocculation has been con­ducted to elucidate the SPM dynamics and to diagnose various environmental issues. The flocculation, sedi­mentation, and transportation of SPM are closely linked to the compositional and structural properties of flocs. In fact, flocs are highly heterogeneous in terms of composition. However, the lack of comprehensive research on floc composition and structure has led to misconceptions regarding the temporal and spatial dynamics of SPM. This review summarizes the current understanding of the heterogeneous composition of flocs (e.g., minerals, organic matter, metals, microplastic, engineered nanoparticles) and its effect on their structure and on their fate and transport within aquatic environments. Furthermore, the effects of human activities (e.g., pollutant discharge, construction) on floc composition are discussed.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022
Article Reference Floodplain forests drive fruit-eating fish diversity at the Amazon Basin-scale
Unlike most rivers globally, nearly all lowland Amazonian rivers have unregulated flow, supporting seasonally flooded floodplain forests. Floodplain forests harbor a unique tree species assemblage adapted to flooding and specialized fauna, including fruit-eating fish that migrate seasonally into floodplains, favoring expansive floodplain areas. Frugivorous fish are forest-dependent fauna critical to forest regeneration via seed dispersal and support commercial and artisanal fisheries. We implemented linear mixed effects models to investigate drivers of species richness among specialized frugivorous fishes across the ~6,000,000 km2 Amazon Basin, analyzing 29 species from 9 families (10,058 occurrences). Floodplain predictors per subbasin included floodplain forest extent, tree species richness (309,540 occurrences for 2,506 species), water biogeochemistry, flood duration, and elevation, with river order controlling for longitudinal positioning along the river network. We observed heterogeneous patterns of frugivorous fish species richness, which were positively correlated with floodplain forest extent, tree species richness, and flood duration. The natural hydrological regime facilitates fish access to flooded forests and controls fruit production. Thus, the ability of Amazonian floodplain ecosystems to support frugivorous fish assemblages hinges on extensive and diverse seasonally flooded forests. Given the low functional redundancy in fish seed dispersal networks, diverse frugivorous fish assemblages disperse and maintain diverse forests; vice versa, diverse forests maintain more fish species, underscoring the critically important taxonomic interdependencies that embody Amazonian ecosystems. Effective management strategies must acknowledge that access to diverse and hydrologically functional floodplain forests is essential to ensure the long-term survival of frugivorous fish and, in turn, the long-term sustainability of floodplain forests.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Article Reference Flora and fauna from a new Famennian (Upper Devonian) locality at Becco, eastern Belgium
The Becco locality (Liège province), belongs to the Theux tectonic window and represents a proximal, probably fluvial, environment corresponding to a channel infill. We present here a preliminary report of the fossil assemblage discovered at the locality. The Becco site has yielded a diverse flora of early seed plants including Moresnetia zalesskyi, Dorinnotheca streeli and Condrusia sp. This assemblage, characteristic of the Belgian Famennian, highlights the diversity of early spermatophytes in the country. Becco has also delivered a rich vertebrate fauna with antiarch, groenlandaspid and phyllolepid placoderms, diplacanthiform acanthodians, as well as actinopterygians and various sarcopterygians. The fossiliferous assemblage of Becco resembles those of several Devonian tetrapod- bearing localities, including that of Strud in Belgium, and could therefore provide a favorable palaeoecological setting in the search for early tetrapods.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications