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Article Reference Sequence stratigraphy and palaeontology of the upper Miocene Pisco Formation along the western side of the lower Ica Valley (Ica Desert, Peru)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2017
Article Reference Seven new species and two new genera of Physocypria sensu latu (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from Brazilian floodplains
We describe seven new species in two new genera of the Physocypria sensu latu clade (Cyclocypridinae) from three of the main Brazilian floodplains. Brasilocypria pea gen. et spec. nov. and Brasilocypria ricardopintoi gen. et spec. nov. occur in the Upper Paraná River floodplain and the South Matogrossense Pantanal, Claudecypria mesquitai gen. et spec. nov., Brasilocypria alisonae gen. et spec. nov. and Claudecypria rochei gen. et spec. nov. were found in the South Matogrossense Pantanal, and Brasilocypria lordi gen. et spec. nov. and Brasilocypria namiotkoi gen. et spec. nov. occur in the Amazon River floodplain. All new species here described were found as sexual populations. Generally, they have a short and suboval carapace, with the left valve overlapping the right valve on all sides, except for the dorsal side in some species. The morphology of the hemipenis and the prehensile palps, together with the shape of the valves, were the most important characters to distinguish the species. Size differences between species can be substantial. Several characters, such as the absence in all new species of the short accompanying seta of the five natatory setae on the antenna; the presence in all new species of a long seta next to the two a-setae on the first thoracopod, and the presence/absence or differences in length of specific setae on the second and third thoracopod, are relevant for the generic diagnoses. We also redefine Keysercypria Karanovic, 2011.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2023
Article Reference Sex-Biased Dispersal at Different Geographical Scales in a Cooperative Breeder from Fragmented Rainforest
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Sexual dimorphism in the walrus mandible: comparative description and geometric morphometrics
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022
Article Reference Shaking the wings and preening feathers with the beak help a bird to recover its ruffled feather vane
The feather of a bird consists of barbs which again comprise numerous barbules with micro-hooklets. This hierarchically organized feather structure provides a smooth vane to bear the load from the airflow; however, the feather vane is vulnerable to disruption by external pulling forces during collision with the branches of a tree and hitting some small obstacles in flight or strong turbulence. The feather is unable to carry the weight of the bird's body if the vane could not be recovered immediately. Here we discovered that the feather vane can be re-established easily by birds themselves. A bird can always recover its feather vane from ruffled state by shaking its wings and preening its feathers with its beak because of the cascaded geometries of barbs and barbules. This biophysical mechanism of self-healing suggests that the hierarchical vane structure can be used to design artificial feathers for a flapping robot.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2019
Article Reference Shallow benthic invertebrate communities in relation to substrate types in coastal environments of the sub-Antarctic Crozet archipelago.
"The European weatherfish Misgurnus fossilis, once widespread across Eurasia, is now critically endangered in Flanders (Belgium), prompting the establishment of a captive breeding programme as part of conservation efforts. During rearing, juvenile weatherfish suffered heavy infections from the ectoparasitic flatworm Gyrodactylus fossilis, leading to mortality events. Although G. fossilis is a natural parasite of M. fossilis, high host densities in hatchery conditions facilitated pathological infection intensities, while adult fish maintained at lower densities showed no visible pathology. This suggests that husbandry practices strongly modulate dynamics of this host–parasite system in captivity. To place these observations in a historical context, we screened both captive-bred fish and archival material (1881–1973, i.e. prior to the anthropogenic introduction of Asian congeners in Misgurnus) for ectoparasites. Morphological and molecular characterisation revealed infections of three monopisthocotylan flatworms: G. fossilis, Gyrodactylus misgurni (Gyrodactylidae), and Actinocleidus cruciatus (Dactylogyridae). All represent new records for Belgium, with G. misgurni and A. cruciatus considered native due to their occurrence in historical material. Notably, these parasites’ abundance has declined compared to historical collections, raising concerns about their own conservation status. Since parasites contribute substantially to species-richness, ecosystem functioning, and even the health of their host individuals and populations (e.g., their immunological development and resilience) their co-decline alongside endangered hosts represents a hidden and meaningful dimension of biodiversity loss. Our findings highlight both risks and opportunities associated with parasite conservation in ex situ programmes focused on fishes or other vertebrate hosts. High juvenile stocking densities increased parasite burdens and mortality, while improved husbandry practices allowed stable co-existence of host and parasite populations. This indicates that carefully managed captive breeding facilities may act as refugia not only for M. fossilis but also for its specialist parasites, maintaining ecological interactions and genetic diversity that would otherwise be lost. While parasites are often overlooked or actively eliminated in wildlife management, they play essential roles in ecosystems and represent species of conservation concern in their own right. These results emphasise the possibility of including parasites in conservation planning. For the weatherfish and its parasites, ex situ conservation thus provides an experimental framework for developing integrated strategies that safeguard both host and parasite persistence. Future reintroduction initiatives should therefore consider whether to also re-establish native parasite populations, a decision that requires informed discussion among conservation stakeholders. By demonstrating the feasibility of host–parasite co-conservation, this study advances the idea that conservation programmes can optimise resource allocation while preserving the evolutionary and ecological relationships of multiple species simultaneously.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Article Reference Shell chemistry of the Boreal Campanian bivalve Rastellum diluvianum (Linnaeus, 1767) reveals temperature seasonality, growth rates and life cycle of an extinct Cretaceous oyster.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2020
Inproceedings Reference Shell repurposing is an important consideration for the future sustainability of mollusc aquaculture
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Article Reference Shell thickness of Nucella lapillus in the North Sea increased over the last 130 years despite ocean acidification
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022
Article Reference Short-term changes in the structure of ant assemblages in a Guinean savanna under differing fire regimes at Lamto Scientific Reserve, Côte d’Ivoire
To maintain savanna vegetation, mid-seasonal fire has been applied since 1961 in the Lamto Savanna (Côte d’Ivoire). However, this prescribed fire has not impeded tree encroachment during recent years, nor have its effects on insect assemblages been documented. Also the impact of tree intrusion on insect assemblages is poorly studied in savanna. To prevent tree density increasing, a change in fire regime might be a solution. In this study, we examined the effect of different fire regimes (early, mid-seasonal and late fires) on leaf-litter ant assemblages in order to suggest appropriate measures for preventing tree invasion without having an effect on insect communities. Sampling was implemented by combining pitfall trapping and leaf-litter sampling before and after three different fire regimes, early, mid-seasonal and late fires. While the ant species richness declined after the passage of early and mid-seasonal fires, significantly more species were found in the burnt savanna after the late fire. However, the losses or gains of species due to different fire regimes did not cause severe changes in the ant species composition. Of the functional groups identified, only the generalists and specialist predators were respectively strongly affected by the early and mid-seasonal fires, certainly due to micro-habitat modification. Based on the trends observed in the present study, we suggest sampling other invertebrate fauna in similar savanna plots to find out if other insect groups have similar reactions to the applied fire regimes.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018