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Article Reference Aroid scarabs in the genus Peltonotus Burmeister (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Dynastinae): key to species and new distributional data
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Arthropod Distribution in a Tropical Rainforest: Tackling a Four Dimensional Puzzle
Quantifying the spatio-temporal distribution of arthropods in tropical rainforests represents a first step towards scrutinizing the global distribution of biodiversity on Earth. To date most studies have focused on narrow taxonomic groups or lack a design that allows partitioning of the components of diversity. Here, we consider an exceptionally large dataset (113,952 individuals representing 5,858 species), obtained from the San Lorenzo forest in Panama, where the phylogenetic breadth of arthropod taxa was surveyed using 14 protocols targeting the soil, litter, understory, lower and upper canopy habitats, replicated across seasons in 2003 and 2004. This dataset is used to explore the relative influence of horizontal, vertical and seasonal drivers of arthropod distribution in this forest. We considered arthropod abundance, observed and estimated species richness, additive decomposition of species richness, multiplicative partitioning of species diversity, variation in species composition, species turnover and guild structure as components of diversity. At the scale of our study (2km of distance, 40m in height and 400 days), the effects related to the vertical and seasonal dimensions were most important. Most adult arthropods were collected from the soil/litter or the upper canopy and species richness was highest in the canopy. We compared the distribution of arthropods and trees within our study system. Effects related to the seasonal dimension were stronger for arthropods than for trees. We conclude that: (1) models of beta diversity developed for tropical trees are unlikely to be applicable to tropical arthropods; (2) it is imperative that estimates of global biodiversity derived from mass collecting of arthropods in tropical rainforests embrace the strong vertical and seasonal partitioning observed here; and (3) given the high species turnover observed between seasons, global climate change may have severe consequences for rainforest arthropods.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Arthropod diversity in a tropical forest
Most eukaryotic organisms are arthropods. Yet, their diversity in rich terrestrial ecosystems is still unknown. Here we produce tangible estimates of the total species richness of arthropods in a tropical rainforest. Using a comprehensive range of structured protocols, we sampled the phylogenetic breadth of arthropod taxa from the soil to the forest canopy in the San Lorenzo forest, Panama. We collected 6144 arthropod species from 0.48 hectare and extrapolated total species richness to larger areas on the basis of competing models. The whole 6000-hectare forest reserve most likely sustains 25,000 arthropod species. Notably, just 1 hectare of rainforest yields 60\% of the arthropod biodiversity held in the wider landscape. Models based on plant diversity fitted the accumulated species richness of both herbivore and nonherbivore taxa exceptionally well. This lends credence to global estimates of arthropod biodiversity developed from plant models.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Artificial weathering of an ordinary chondrite: recommendations for the curation of 1 Antarctic meteorites
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022
Article Reference Asian gliriform origin for arctostilopid mammals
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Inproceedings Reference Aspects de la vie matérielle et spirituelle, l’alimentation végétale
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Assemblages of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) along an elevational gradient in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2020
Article Reference Assembling ancestors: the manipulation of Neolithic and Gallo-Roman skeletal remains at Pommerœul, Belgium
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2024
Article Reference Assessing copepod (Crustacea: Copepoda) species richness at different spatial scales in northwestern Romanian caves.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Assessing hydrogeological hazards in the post-mining region in Saint-Vaast, Belgium: insights from three decades of SAR data and piezometric analysis
This study assesses hydrogeological hazards in the Saint-Vaast region, Belgium, impacted by three decades of deformation post-coal mine closure. Using Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PS-InSAR) applied to 30 years of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data along with geological investigations and 13 years of piezometric well data, we analysed subsurface dynamics leading to environmental hazards in the region. We focused on identifying key periods of significant deformation pattern changes. The soft Wealden terrains (Lower Cretaceous) are characterized by alternating sandstones, clay, and sand facies, composing the sedimentary roof of an old mine drainage adit dug at 30 m depth. The presence of this mined adit structure is contributing to the current vulnerability of the region. Especially, when the abandoned mine drainage adit was filled with water following the cessation of pumping. Due to an increase in the water level in the Wealden aquifer below the gallery, natural groundwater flow paths and pressures have increased over time. At least two significant mudflow outbursts, in 2009 and 2018, occurred. This study shows that both events were correlated with changes in water level and deformation. Moreover, results suggest a new phase of rising water levels and ground uplift due to increased pressure in the Wealden aquifer. A crucial outcome of this research is the assessment of the potential for another similar incident soon, informed by the correlation analysis of water level and ground displacement time series.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2024