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Article Reference Acceptance of two native myrmecophilous species, Platyarthrus hoffmannseggii (Isopoda : Oniscidea) and Cyphoderus albinus (Collembola : Cyphoderidae) by the introduced invasive garden ant Lasius neglectus (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) in Belgium
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Accounting for interspecies and intraspecies variation in swimming performance for fish passage solutions
Across the globe, there are millions of in-stream structures that fragment the world'’s river networks, acting as barriers that can impede the movements of fish. Designing effective solutions to accommodate fish communities requires information about the swimming abilities and behaviours of all species. This should account for different swimming modes, abilities, behaviours, and niches. We investigated the swimming speeds of nine migratory New Zealand species to assess both inter- and intraspecies variation. We then calculated maximum traversable speeds for culverts of a given length, based on the endurance abilities of our lowest performing species (Galaxias maculatus). Our findings reveal significant inter- and intraspecies variation in swimming speeds. Among the species studied, Galaxias brevipinnis, Galaxias argenteus, and Galaxias postvectis were the strongest swimmers. In contrast, Galaxias maculatus was one of the weakest swimmers. Body length positively correlated with Umax indicating that fish passage barriers select against the weakest swimming species, as well as smaller individuals within a species. Maximum water speeds in a culvert must be lower than 0.3 m s−-1, the previously assumed standard rule-of-thumb for New Zealand, to provide adequate passage for a high proportion of a weak-swimming indicator species (Galaxias maculatus). Synthesis and applications: . Previous maximum traversable water speeds for fish passage designs have been based on average swimming ability, but this approach only enables fish that are better than the average swimmers of their species to overcome barriers. This study highlights the importance of evidence-based designs for successful fish passage solutions to account for the ability of all fish. By considering differences between and within species, rather than assuming a “‘one-size-fits-all” ’ approach we can develop more effective passage solutions that better preserve fish communities.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2024
Article Reference Acoustic Seafloor Classification Using the Weyl Transform of Multibeam Echosounder Backscatter Mosaic.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2021
Article Reference Acoustic stress responses in juvenile sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax induced by offshore pile driving
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Active dispersal is differentially affected by inter- and intraspecific competition in closely related nematode species (vol 124, pg 561, 2016)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Article Reference Active dispersal is differentially affected by inter- and intraspecific competition in closely related nematode species
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Active dispersal is differentially affected by inter- and intraspecific competition in closely related nematode species
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Activity and behaviour of Nathusius’ pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii at low and high altitude in a North Sea offshore wind farm
Several bat species are known to migrate long distances between summer and winter roosts. During migration, many bats even cross the North Sea. The developments of offshore wind farms in the North Sea could therefore pose a collision risk for migrating bats. While bats have been observed inside offshore wind farms, their activity at turbine rotor height yet remains unknown. We therefore installed acoustic bat detectors at wind turbines in the Belgian part of the North Sea. Seven detectors were installed on the service platform of the transition piece (16 m above mean sea level) and four were installed on the nacelle of the turbines, in the centre of the rotor swept area (93 m above mean sea level). A total of 151 recordings of call sequences of Pipistrellus nathusii (Nathusius’ pipistrelle) were made during 20 nights over an entire autumn migration season (8 August – 30 November 2017). 45 recordings contained more than 10 calls. These were further investigated for behavioural clues. We identified 32 recordings of animals in transit and 10 sequences of animals passing by while simultaneously exploring. Only three detections contained feeding buzzes and/or intense exploratory behaviour. The number of recordings at 93 m were around 10% of the number of recordings made at 16 m. This indicates that the activity of P. nathusii at our study site, measured at that particular altitude is low. Our observations therefore suggest that the collision risk might be lower than what could be expected from low altitude observations. However, a low number of recordings at nacelle height does not necessarily mean that only a low number of bats will collide with the turbines. The activity in the outer parts of the rotor swept zone, outside the detection range of our acoustic detectors, remains unknown and should be further investigated.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2019
Article Reference Adaptation of a polyphagous herbivore to a novel host plant extensively shapes the transcriptome of herbivore and host
Generalist arthropod herbivores rapidly adapt to a broad range of host plants. However, the extent of transcriptional reprogramming in the herbivore and its hosts associated with adaptation remains poorly understood. Using the spider mite Tetranychus urticae and tomato as models with available genomic resources, we investigated the reciprocal genomewide transcriptional changes in both spider mite and tomato as a consequence of mite's adaptation to tomato. We transferred a genetically diverse mite population from bean to tomato where triplicated populations were allowed to propagate for 30 generations. Evolving populations greatly increased their reproductive performance on tomato relative to their progenitors when reared under identical conditions, indicative of genetic adaptation. Analysis of transcriptional changes associated with mite adaptation to tomato revealed two main components. First, adaptation resulted in a set of mite genes that were constitutively downregulated, independently of the host. These genes were mostly of an unknown function. Second, adapted mites mounted an altered transcriptional response that had greater amplitude of changes when re-exposed to tomato, relative to nonadapted mites. This gene set was enriched in genes encoding detoxifying enzymes and xenobiotic transporters. Besides the direct effects on mite gene expression, adaptation also indirectly affected the tomato transcriptional responses, which were attenuated upon feeding of adapted mites, relative to the induced responses by nonadapted mite feeding. Thus, constitutive downregulation and increased transcriptional plasticity of genes in a herbivore may play a central role in adaptation to host plants, leading to both a higher detoxification potential and reduced production of plant defence compounds.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Adaptive, preadamtive and non-adaptive components of radiations in ancient lakes: a review
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications