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Article Reference Comparative osteological study of three species of distinct genera of Haplotilapiini (Cichlidae)
In palaeontological and archaeozoological studies dealing with tilapia remains, identifications are usually limited to the level of the tribe Tilapiini (now called Haplotilapiini). In the present study, dry skeletons of Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758), Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner, 1864), Sarotherodon galilaeus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Coptodon zillii (Gervais, 1848) were analysed with the aim of defining morphological characters on a series of isolated skeletal elements. Eighteen different skeletal elements that have good chances of being well preserved (and of being recognised as tilapia) were analysed, i.e. premaxilla, dentary, maxilla, articular, lacrimal, palatine, quadrate, hyomandibula, operculum, preoperculum, posttemporal, cleithrum, supracleithrum, urohyal, vomer, and the first three precaudal vertebrae. Diagnostic criteria are described and illustrated with figures. It appears from the comparative analysis, and also from blind tests carried out afterwards, that identification is possible except for the articular and the third vertebra. More accurate identification of fossil and subfossil finds of Haplotilapiini should allow a better documentation of the zoogeographical history of these taxa in the future.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2017
Article Reference Reconstructing Asian faunal introductions to eastern Africa from multi-proxy biomolecular and archaeological datasets
Human-mediated biological exchange has had global social and ecological impacts. In sub- Saharan Africa, several domestic and commensal animals were introduced from Asia in the pre-modern period; however, the timing and nature of these introductions remain contentious. One model supports introduction to the eastern African coast after the mid-first millennium CE, while another posits introduction dating back to 3000 BCE. These distinct scenarios have implications for understanding the emergence of long-distance maritime connectivity, and the ecological and economic impacts of introduced species. Resolution of this longstanding debate requires new efforts, given the lack of well-dated fauna from highprecision excavations, and ambiguous osteomorphological identifications. We analysed faunal remains from 22 eastern African sites spanning a wide geographic and chronological range, and applied biomolecular techniques to confirm identifications of two Asian taxa: domestic chicken (Gallus gallus) and black rat (Rattus rattus). Our approach included ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis aided by BLAST-based bioinformatics, Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) collagen fingerprinting, and direct AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) radiocarbon dating. Our results support a late, mid-first millennium CE introduction of these species. We discuss the implications of our findings for models of biological exchange, and emphasize the applicability of our approach to tropical areas with poor bone preservation.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2017
Inproceedings Reference Geological evidence for Holocene earthquakes and tsunamis along the Nankai-Suruga Trough, Japan
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Inproceedings Reference Fragmented records of extreme wave events and abrupt changes in relative sea level along the eastern Nankai Trough, Japan
Located in Library / No RBINS Staff publications
Inproceedings Reference Geological evidence for tsunamis and earthquakes from Lake Hamana and Fuji Five Lakes
Located in Library / No RBINS Staff publications
Inproceedings Reference Constraining timing and origin of extreme wave events, Shirasuka Lowlands, Japan.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Inproceedings Reference Feldspar dating of historical extreme wave event deposits recorded at Shirasuka lowlands, Pacific coast of Japan.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Article Reference Two new species of the genus Gergithus Stål, 1870 from Thailand and Borneo (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Issidae)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2021
Article Reference Modelling migratory waterfowl stopover habitat while accounting for ephemeral environmental conditions
1.Migratory species depend on ephemeral environmental conditions; thus, species distribution modelling (SDM) must incorporate phenological changes along migratory routes. Our overarching goal was to model habitats for three waterfowl species migrating through Eurasian grasslands (red-breasted goose [Branta ruficollis], taiga bean goose [Anser fabalis fabalis] and Bewick's swan [Cygnus columbianus bewickii]) while accounting for ephemeral environmental conditions. Our objectives were (a) to develop a workflow of mapping ephemeral environmental conditions, (b) model habitats for the three species and (c) evaluate the protection status of habitats in natural and agricultural landscapes. We expected water availability, particularly ephemeral spring waterbodies, to strongly influence these species' distributions. 2. We utilized MODIS data for phenological synchronization of Landsat images to create species-and season-specific metrics and land cover maps. We used Landsat-derived environmental variables, elevation and bird GPS locations in Maxent SDM. We compared locations of modelled habitats, protected areas and Ramsar sites. 3. Our land cover maps had an overall accuracy of 0.92–0.95 and captured ephemeral water extent during these species' migrations. All models had AUC scores of 0.89–0.94; distance to water, land cover and elevation were the most important variables. Modelled habitats were distributed unevenly and occurred in both natural and agricultural landscapes; 40%–76% fell within croplands. Although most croplands provide a rich food supply, their value as waterfowl habitat critically depended on water availability. Approximately 22% of potential habitat in the natural landscape, but only 3% in croplands, had some level of protection.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Article Reference A combined OSL and 14C dating study of charcoal production in the sandy environment of Zoersel forest (N Belgium)
We investigate the potential of quartz-based OSL-dating for application to heated sandy sediments that are closely associated with the remains of charcoal production (charcoal kilns). This is particularly relevant for post-1650 CE features, where 14C-dating lacks resolution. We first document the general OSL characteristics using large aliquots of sand-sized quartz. Results from procedural tests indicate that the laboratory measurement procedure should allow reliable equivalent dose estimation. The scale of analysis is then reduced to smaller aliquots for all samples, each composed of 100–200 grains, as well as to single grains for eight heated samples. For one sample, both the small and single-grain ages are consistent with the 14C-ages obtained for charcoal fragments in the same sedimentary unit. Also for three other samples, single-grains yield ages consistent with 14C-dating; all other OSL-ages are older although, for three of these samples, single grains and small aliquots yield results that are not significantly different. We discuss potential sources of inaccuracy for the OSL-dates, such as dose rate determination and homogeneous incomplete resetting. The latter is the most difficult to assess and requires additional empirical data.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022