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Article Reference Recent Belgian records of the hornet rove-beetle Quedius (Velleius) dilatatus (Fabricius, 1787) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Article Reference Recent Belgian records of the hornet rove-beetle Quedius (Velleius) dilatatus (Fabricius, 1787) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Article Reference Recent Belgian records of the hornet rove-beetle Quedius (Velleius) dilatatus (Fabricius, 1787) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Article Reference Recent changes in the distribution and rooting elevation of Schoenoplectus club‑rushes in the Scheldt estuary and the consequences for their survival
Abstract We aimed to assess the distribution and trends in abundance and rooting elevation in relation to substrate type (soft sediment/riprap) for three Sch‑ oenoplectus club-rush species in the Zeeschelde estuary (Belgium). Surveys took place in 1995, 2003 and 2013, following dike fortifcations for the SIGMA food control plan. Compared to 1995 club-rush tufts are now positioned lower in the tidal frame, especially their upper margin. Club-rush cover decreased by 50% in the last time interval. This is linked to marsh succession after a vegetation set-back by SIGMA works and increasing competition with Phragmites and Salix. The lower margin of club-rushes shifted downwards on riprap, but not on soft sediment. This substrate-dependent rooting elevation reach likely indicates that substrate stability can be an important factor for club-rush persistence and growth on the lower marsh margin. This emerged only recently probably because tufts needed time to expand after the SIGMA works and because of the improved water quality. Currently, Schoenoplectus club-rushes on soft sediment in the Zeeschelde sufer from the lack of suitable areas with cyclic natural morphodynamics that maintain pioneer habitat. To maintain club-rush diversity we suggest to manage threatened club-rush populations or to translocate them to newly created restoration sites.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2023
Article Reference Recent non-marine ostracods (Crustacea) from New Caledonia (Melanesia, Pacific Ocean)
The New Caledonian Archipelago is a hot spot for biodiversity and endemism. Here, we report on new records of nine species from localities on the main island, Grande Terre, and illustrate these: Ilyodromus viridulus (Brady, 1886), Stenocypris hislopi Ferguson, 1969, S. macedonica Petkovski & Meisch, 1996¸ S. malayica Victor & Fernando, 1981, Bradleytriebella lineata (Victor & Fernando, 1981), Hemicypris pyxidata (Moniez, 1892), Heterocypris incongruens (Ramdohr, 1808), Cypridopis vidua (O.F. Müller, 1776) and Limnocythere stationis Vávra, 1891. We also provide redescriptions and illustrations of the valves and carapace of Stenocypris marginata Daday, 1910 sensu Méhes, 1939, Cypris granulata Daday, 1898 and Kennethia major (Méhes, 1939); for the latter species also including some soft parts. Therefore, twenty two certain species have thus far been reported from the New Caledonian Archipelago. The status of seven uncertain species is also discussed. Previous records of Stenocypris major (Baird, 1859) from Grande Terre, mainly by Méhes, are here considered to belong to S. hislopi. We propose to reject the presence of Cyprinotus cingalensis Brady, 1886 in New Caledonia and suggest to consider Cypridopsis sarasini Méhes, 1939 as an “uncertain species” (sensu Meisch et al. 2019). We also argue that Eucypris wolffhuegeli Méhes, 1914 might be a synonym of H. incongruens and suggest that Strandesia rouxi Méhes, 1939 might be considered a junior synonym of an existing species, pending further research.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2024
Article Reference Recognising Type Specimens in a Dispersed Collection. The Macaronesian Land Mollusca Described by R. T. Lowe
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2023 OA
Article Reference Reconciling biodiversity and carbon stock conservation in an Afrotropical forest landscape
Protecting aboveground carbon stocks in tropical forests is essential for mitigating global climate change and is assumed to simultaneously conserve biodiversity. Although the relationship between tree diversity and carbon stocks is generally positive, the relationship remains unclear for consumers or decomposers. We assessed this relationship for multiple trophic levels across the tree of life (10 organismal groups, 3 kingdoms) in lowland rainforests of the Congo Basin. Comparisons across regrowth and old-growth forests evinced the expected positive relationship for trees, but not for other organismal groups. Moreover, differences in species composition between forests increased with difference in carbon stock. These variable associations across the tree of life contradict the implicit assumption that maximum co-benefits to biodiversity are associated with conservation of forests with the highest carbon storage. Initiatives targeting climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation should include both old-growth and regenerating forests to optimally benefit biodiversity and carbon storage.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018
Article Reference Reconciling the impact of mobile bottom-contact fishing on marine organic carbon sequestration
Anthropogenic activities that disturb the seafloor inadvertently affect the organic carbon cycle. Mobile bottom-contacting fishing (MBCF) is a widespread fishing technique that involves the dragging of fishing gear across the seafloor and disrupts seafloor sediments and alters carbon storage dynamics. However, the impact of MBCF on carbon sequestration is still not well quantified, with global estimates of MBCF-induced carbon release ranging from less than 17 Mt C yr−¹ to 400 Mt C yr−¹ with limited assessment of associated uncertainties. Addressing these knowledge gaps is essential for informing effective, evidence-based policy. Here, we force a carefully parametrized organic carbon mineralization model with empirical relationships and observational data from the Northwest European continental shelf and use a Monte-Carlo approach to assess the uncertainty associated to our estimate. We find that MBCF on the Northwest European continental shelf could reduce sedimentary carbon storage by 270 kt C yr−¹. However, the estimated uncertainty remains large (25%-75% percentile range = 620 kt C yr−1), mainly due to uncertainties in the spatial variability of organic carbon reactivity. Our findings also show that the divergence of carbon release estimates in the literature is primarily due to differences in how organic carbon reactivity is parameterized, with higher release estimates often reflecting overestimated mineralization rates. Overall, our study demonstrates the need for targeted experimental studies to quantify how sediment disturbance influences organic carbon reactivity, to better constrain the impacts of anthropogenic activities on the marine carbon cycle and support accurate carbon accounting and informed policymaking.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
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
Article Reference Reconstructing science networks from the past: eponyms between malacological authors in the mid-19th century
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2019