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Article Reference Variability of pterygoid teeth in three species of Podarcis lizards and the utility of palatal dentition in lizard systematics
Located in Associated publications / Belgian Journal of Zoology / Bibliographic References
Article Reference Variability of Suspended Particulate Matter in the Bohai Sea from the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI)
This study assesses the performance of the Geostationary Ocean Imager (GOCI) for mapping of suspended particulate matter in the Bohai Sea, a turbid water region. GOCI imagery for remote sensing reflectance and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) is analysed in detail for two days in June 2011 (8 images per day). Both instantaneous and daily composite maps are considered and a comparison is made with corresponding reflectance and TSS products from MODIS-AQUA. Results show TSS distributions corresponding to previous studies of the region. The advantage of the higher acquisition frequency (8 images/day instead of 1) offered by GOCI is clearly demonstrated in the daily composite which is more complete during this period of scattered but moving clouds. Consideration of temporal variation over the day indicates low natural variability but some artificial variability from processing errors - this analysis provides a first indication of how the higher frequency of data from geostationary ocean colour could lead to improved data quality control via temporal coherency outlier detection. While there is room for improvement on the GOCI calibration, atmospheric correction and retrieval algorithms, the current study suggests that the GOCI data can already be used now to study qualitatively sediment dynamics except in the extremely turbid waters which are masked out of the current dataset. In a wider context, it is considered that the technical challenges of geostationary ocean colour have been met by the GOCI concept, and, notwithstanding potential improvements on the concept and data processing methods, it is recommended that this mission serve as a model for future geostationary ocean colour sensors over Europe/Africa and the Americas.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Variation in ecosystem services within biogenic reefs: The role of reef-building species under distinct hydrodynamic conditions
To enhance the climate resilience of coastlines, measures are being implemented to protect and restore coastal ecosystems, such as biogenic reefs and dunes. These measures, known as Nature-based Solutions (NbS), provide protection against storms, coastal erosion, and flooding. They are also recognised for increasing biodiversity and delivering a range of ecosystem services (ES). This study investigated the ES provided by biogenic reefs composed of two reef-building species (Mytilus edulis and Lanice conchilega) under distinct hydrodynamic conditions. Three ES were assessed at two sites in the Belgian part of the North Sea: (1) coastal protection, (2) carbon sequestration, and (3) water quality regulation. The two sites have different hydrodynamic conditions due to their relative locations in relation to local sandbanks, making one site more exposed and the other more sheltered. The ES were quantified and monetised using in-situ measurements and literature data based on the SUstainable Marine Ecosystem Services (SUMES) model. The results suggest that the provision of ES in biogenic reefs is determined by multiple factors, including environmental conditions (e.g. hydrodynamics) and reefbuilding species. (1) Sediment accumulation was only observed under low hydrodynamic conditions, due to the higher settlement success of M. edulis and the presence of L. conchilega. (2) M. edulis “produces” carbon under both low and high hydrodynamic conditions, due to high respiration and biocalcification rates. However, low hydrodynamic conditions are more conducive to carbon burial, thus enhancing carbon sequestration. (3) M. edulis patches exhibited higher denitrification rates under low hydrodynamic conditions than under high hydrodynamic conditions or in L. conchilega patches, due to divergent macrobenthic functional diversity. In conclusion, the level of ES provision is determined by location and associated environmental conditions, as well as temporal and spatial variation in biogenic reefs and the physiological characteristics of reef builders. Therefore, both aspects need to be carefully considered when planning coastal protection measures and determining the provision of ES. Finally, when implementing NbS along high-energy coastlines, sheltered sites should be prioritised.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Article Reference Variation in ostracod (Crustacea, Ostracoda) communities in the alluvial valleyof the upper Parana River (Brazil) in relation to substrate
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Variation that can be expected when using particle tracking models in connectivity studies
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2017
Article Reference Vertebral morphology and intracolumnar variation of the iconic African viperid snake Atheris (Serpentes, Viperidae)
We here provide a detailed description of the vertebral morphology of the African arboreal viperid snakes of the genus Atheris. Vertebrae of three different species of the genus, i.e., Atheris desaixi, Atheris hispida, and Atheris katangensis, were investigated via the aid of μCT (micro‐computed tomography) scanning. We describe several vertebrae from different regions of the vertebral column for all three species, starting from the atlas‐axis complex to the caudal tip, in order to demonstrate important differences regarding the intracolumnar variation. Comparison of these three species shows an overall similar general morphology of the trunk vertebrae among the Atheris species. We extensively compare Atheris with other known viperids. As the sole arboreal genus of Viperinae the prehensile nature of the tail of Atheris is reflected in its caudal vertebral morphology, which is characterized by a high number of caudal vertebrae but also robust and anteroventrally oriented pleurapophyses as a skeletal adaptation, linked with the myology of the tail, to an arboreal lifestyle. We anticipate that the extensive figuring of these viperid specimens will also aid identifications in paleontology.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2024
Article Reference Vertebrate Palaeoecology of the Pisco Formation (Miocene, Peru): Glimpses into the Ancient Humboldt Current Ecosystem
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2021
Article Reference Vertebrate predation in the Late Devonian evidenced by bite traces and regurgitations: implications for an early tetrapod freshwater ecosystem
The terrestrialization process by vertebrates occurred during the Devonian period, with fully land-dwelling tetrapods recorded in the Carboniferous. Thus, the Late Devonian is an important period for deciphering the ecological pressures that applied during the water-to-land transition. Higher predation pressures in the underwater environment have been suggested as an influential biotic evolutionary factor in this key habitat shift. Direct evidence of ancient predation on Palaeozoic vertebrates is seen in the form of rare traces preserved on fossils, and these range from trauma observed on the skeleton (such as attack marks) to ingested food remains (bromalites). The late Famennian freshwater ecosystem of Strud (Belgium) consists of a rich assemblage of many coeval gnathostomes or jawed fishes (placoderms, ‘acanthodians’, actinopterygians, and various sarcopterygian groups including tetrapods). Here we analyse the record of direct evidence for predation in the Strud vertebrate fossil assemblage. We recognize 12 regurgitalites and 13 bite traces, including a rare case of a tooth embedded in its original prey body target. Fossils from regurgitalites were imaged using scanning electron microscopy and chemically analysed to test for their possible ingestion signature by comparison with other isolated skeletal remains from the same locality. From this evidence, tristichopterid tetrapodomorphs are inferred to be the highest consumers of the trophic network, targeting small placoderms, and porolepiforms, and probably congeners. We observe two possible prey patterns in regurgitalites, for sarcopterygians and actinopterygians, both of which are associated with acanthodians. In Strud, no trophic position can be deduced for tetrapods from direct fossil evidence of predation.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022
Article Reference Vertical and lateral distribution of Foraminifera and Ostracoda in the East Frisian Wadden Sea – developing a transfer func-tion for relative sea-level change.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2019
Article Reference Vertical stratification of the termite assemblage in a neotropical rainforest
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications