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Article Reference Carbon burial in two Greenland fjords shows no direct link to glacier type
Fjord systems play a crucial role in the burial and long-term storage of organic carbon (OC). Despite their importance, Greenland's fjords remain underrepresented in global carbon budgets, even though accelerated melt of the Ice Sheet alters these ecosystems through increased freshwater discharge and iceberg calving, ultimately driving glacier retreat inland. This study compares sediment TOC, TN, and Chl-a content as well as δ13C, δ15N and organic carbon burial rates (OCBRs) in two neighbouring Greenland fjords: Nuup Kangerlua, dominated by marine-terminating glaciers (MTGs), and Ameralik, influenced by a land-terminating glacier (LTG). Although subglacial upwelling enhances primary productivity in Nuup Kangerlua, this does not translate into correspondingly higher surface sediment organic matter content or significantly higher OCBRs compared to Ameralik, where no such upwelling occurs. Instead, the average OCBRs were similar between the two fjords with 18.0 ± 1.6 g C m−2 yr−1 in Nuup Kangerlua and 16.2 ± 1.7 g C m−2 yr−1 in Ameralik. In Nuup Kangerlua, sediment Chl-a content in the upper 10 cm ranged from 0.08 to 9.8 µg g−1 and TOC from 0.05 \% to 1.32 \%, whereas in Ameralik they ranged from 0.35 to 20.1 µg g−1 and 0.13 \% to 2.43 \%, respectively. The elevated values in Ameralik are linked to a deep depositional basin that promotes OC accumulation and strongly contributes to the relatively high average OCBR. Furthermore, between 8 \% and 28 \% of the annual surface production in Nuup Kangerlua is ultimately buried in the sediments, whereas this proportion is substantially higher in Ameralik: 25 \% to 62 \%. The weaker coupling between surface production and sedimentary OC burial in Nuup Kangerlua versus Ameralik underscores the need for further research to disentangle the interactions driving primary production, carbon transfer in the food web, and the lateral and vertical transport, degradation and preservation of OC in fjord sediments.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Article Reference New insights on the Lower Ordovician linguliformean brachiopods of the Anglo-Brabant Massif and the Stavelot-Venn Inlier (Belgium)
The Lower Ordovician (Tremadocian) linguliformean brachiopods of the southeastern part of the Anglo-Brabant Massif are documented systematically for the first time. The material belongs to a single Belgian locality (La Roche-en-Brabant), situated in one of the few valleys that incise the Mesozoic-Cenozoic cover, and more precisely from the topmost part of the siliciclastic Mousty Formation (Tangissart Member). Here, minute, poorly diverse linguliformeans are associated with planktic graptolites (Rhabdinopora) and nileid trilobites (Platypeltoides). They consist of three species belonging to three genera (Obolidae and Elkaniidae), of which only Broeggeria is known with certainty, due to the poor preservation of the material. In the Belgian part of the Stavelot-Venn Inlier, the presence of linguliformean brachiopods within the Floian Les Plattes Member of the Ottré Formation, which were reported more than 150 years ago, remains unconfirmed. The genus Broeggeria, known from several Belgian Tremadocian localities, is a relic from the Cambrian brachiopod fauna. By the Tremadocian it is well established globally between the Low-Latitude and High-Latitude provinces. The Belgian assemblage has strong similarities with assemblages from Baltica reflecting the early Palaeozoic changing palaeogeography.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Article Reference Designation of a Brazilian topotypic neotype for Dardanus pectinatus (Ortmann, 1892) and establishment of D. ctenodon sp. nov. for the East Atlantic hermit crab previously misidentified with it (Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura, Diogenidae)
The type locality of the hermit crab, Pagurus striatus var. pectinata Ortmann, 1892, as given in its original description, is Brazil. After its original brief taxonomic account, the species was first treated as amphi-Atlantic and later the name Dardanus pectinatus (Ortmann, 1892) was systematically applied to an African Atlantic species. No explicit reason has ever been given for this application. However, it transpires from the literature that carcinologists believed that the gastropod shell, Tonna galea (Linnaeus, 1758), occupied by the holotype of Pagurus striatus var. pectinata Ortmann, 1892 was endemic to the Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic, and that the specimen had therefore been mislabelled. In fact, Tonna galea is amphi-Atlantic and the shell occupied by the hermit crab cannot be used to argue that it has been mislabelled. The holotype of Pagurus striatus var. pectinata Ortmann, 1892 is lost and its original description and illustration are insufficient to establish its true identity. Two steps are taken to stabilise the nomenclature in accepting the hypothesis by far most likely, i.e. that the holotype of Pagurus striatus var. pectinata did indeed come from Brazil. First action: a Brazilian neotype is designated for Pagurus striatus var. pectinata, with a specimen of a species compatible with its original description, namely Dardanus insignis (de Saussure, 1857). As a result of this action, Dardanus pectinatus (Ortmann, 1892) becomes a junior synonym of Dardanus insignis (de Saussure, 1857). Second action: the African Atlantic species is described as a new species, Dardanus ctenodon sp. nov., with a holotype from Senegal. The three similar Atlantic species Dardanus arrosor (Herbst, 1796), Dardanus ctenodon sp. nov. and Dardanus insignis (de Saussure, 1857) are the subject of an illustrated taxonomic account and an identification key is given for all the Atlantic species of Dardanus.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Article Reference Weather and climate related spatial varability of high turbidity areas in the North Sea and the English Channel
Located in Library / Pending old publications
Article Reference Limits of calcium isotopes diagenesis in fossil bone and enamel
Diagenesis has been recognized for decades to significantly alter the trace elements biogenic signatures in fossil tooth enamel and bone that are routinely used for paleobiological and paleoenvironmental reconstructions. This signature is modified during diagenesis according to a complex continuum between two main processes, addition and substitution. For an additive-like, or early diagenesis, the trace elements biogenic profiles can be restored by leaching secondary minerals, but this technique is inefficient for a substitutive-like, or extensive diagenesis for which secondary trace elements are incorporated into the biogenic mineral. This scheme is however unclear for Ca, the major cation in tooth enamel and bone hydroxylapatite, whose stable isotope composition (δ44/42Ca) also conveys biological and environmental information. We present a suite of leaching experiments for monitoring δ44/42Ca values in artificial and natural fossil enamel and bone from different settings. The results show that enamel δ44/42Ca values are insensitive to an additive-like diagenesis that involves the formation of secondary Ca- carbonate mineral phases, while bone shows a consistent offset toward 44Ca-enriched values, that can be restored to the biogenic baseline by a leaching procedure. In the context of a substitutive-like diagenesis, bone exhibits constant δ44/42Ca values, insensitive to leaching, and shows a REE pattern symptomatic of extensive diagenesis. Such a REE pattern can be observed in fossil enamel for which δ44/42Ca values are still fluctuating and follow a trophic pattern. We conclude that Ca isotopes in fossil enamel are probably not prone to extensive diagenesis and argue that this immunity is due to the very low porosity of enamel that cannot accommodate enough secondary minerals to significantly modify the isotopic composition of the enamel Ca pool.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2023
Article Reference Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Trictenotoma Gray, 1832 (Coleoptera: Trictenotomidae). Part 3 – Species from the Philippine Archipelago, with Description of a New Species
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2021
Article Reference Food nutrient availability affects epibiont prevalence and richness in natural Daphnia populations
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2020
Article Reference A trait-based framework to identify North Sea fauna vulnerable to underwater noise
In the absence of an internationally coordinated management strategy, continued exploitation of the North Sea is expected to exacerbate underwater radiated noise (URN), heightening risks of adverse impacts on marine life. Identifying indicator species and their habitats is a fundamental step in the EU framework for setting a scientifically grounded underwater noise limit value (UNLV). While past research has primarily emphasized marine mammals, there is an increasing effort to highlight that the impacts of URN extend to fishes and invertebrates. To support indicator species selection in the North Sea for URN risk assessment, a trait-based vulnerability scoring system for marine mammals, fishes and invertebrates was developed. Each scoring system evaluates multiple attributes related to a species' capacity to detect and produce sound, as well as the documented impacts from both impulsive and continuous anthropogenic noise, and highlights species of particular concern and socio-ecological significance. Five potential indicator species were identified from each of the three taxonomic groups (marine mammals, fishes and invertebrates) for URN risk assessment. The proposed vulnerability scoring system serves as an adaptive framework, open to iterative refinement as bioacoustics knowledge advances. Although data gaps persist, the establishment of regional UNLV to safeguard vulnerable species should not be delayed. By linking URN exposure with key habitats of identified indicator species, this approach facilitates an ecosystem-based management of URN in the North Sea and provides a transferable framework for other regions.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2026
Article Reference Revision of the longirostrine crocodylian Thoracosaurus isorhynchus from the Maastrichtian–Danian of northwestern Europe
A highly debated topic in eusuchian systematics has been the placement of “thoracosaurs,” an assemblage of Cretaceous–Paleogene longirostrine crocodylians from Europe and North America. The position of “thoracosaurs” varies from one study to the next, from being the sister taxon of the extant Gavialis to being excluded from the crown group Crocodylia entirely. Despite these issues, “thoracosaurs” have been understudied, with many taxa suffering from incomplete or outdated descriptions and dubious taxonomic assignment. Here, we provide a comprehensive study of Thoracosaurus isorhynchus from Maastrichtian–Danian deposits of northwestern Europe. We present and describe new material from the type locality of T. isorhynchus. In addition, we redescribe and figure the lectotype and paralectotypes of the species, as well as the material from the Maastrichtian type area, the Netherlands. Moreover, comparison of T. isorhynchus with the type material of Thoracosaurus “scanicus” of the Danian of southern Sweden indicates that the latter might be a junior synonym of T. isorhynchus, suggesting the survival of this species across the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary. An array of phylogenetic analyses points to a close relationship between T. isorhynchus and the Cenomanian Portugalosuchus azenhae. This implies an early emergence of “thoracosaurs” and causes extensive ghost lineages within Gavialoidea, highlighting the stratigraphic inconsistency of this group and a need for a thorough revision of other “thoracosaurs.”
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2026
Article Reference Carboniferous fossils enlighten the systematics and evolution of Hemiptera
Fossils are witnesses to the evolutionary processes undergone by living lineages. The earliest occurrence of clades provides rich insights into the timing of diversification of lineages and better delimits the groups that compose them. Hemiptera are a remarkable order within the insects due to their high morphological and ecological diversity. However, our understanding of the early evolution of this group remains hampered by the lack of early hemipteran occurrences. In this study we investigate the earliest Carboniferous occurrences of Hemiptera, taking advantage of the redescription of known specimens, and describe three new key hemipteran fossils. We provide thorough taxonomic assessments to describe the earliest occurrences of the Auchenorrhyncha and Sternorrhyncha lineages that constitute major branches in the Hemiptera tree of life. These new occurrences sharpen the delimitations within the classification of Hemiptera and enable better understanding of forewing venation evolution within this hyper-diverse insect order. The following new taxa are described: Protoprosbolomorpha infraorder nov. for Protoprosbole straeleni Laurentiaux, Carbonaturidae fam. nov., Carbonatura oudardi gen. et sp. nov. and Carbopsyllidium minutum gen. et sp. nov.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2026