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Article Reference Étude des pathologies bucco-dentaires dans trois populations mérovingiennes de Belgique
Notre étude porte sur les pathologies bucco-dentaires de trois sites mérovingiens de Belgique (Ciply, Braives et Torgny) : plus particulièrement les caries, les abcès et les pertes ante-mortem (PAM). Nous analysons l’impact de diverses variables, telles que le site archéologique, le type de dent, le sexe et l’âge au décès sur la fréquence de ces trois pathologies. Avec un total de 4599 dents étudiées pour un effectif de 423 individus, nos résultats montrent que le nombre de dents conservées varie significativement selon le site d’origine, suggérant que celui-ci exerce une influence notable sur l’état de conservation des squelettes. Nos données montrent que la présence de caries et d’abcès dépend aussi du site. Ainsi, 63 % des Mérovingiens souffraient de caries, avec les plus fortes prévalences à Braives, tandis que l’abcès est présent chez 23 % des sujets avec une fréquence plus élevée à Ciply. Par contre, le nombre de PAM, qui touchait 65 % des individus, ne varie pas selon le site. La combinaison de plusieurs pathologies est observée chez 12 % des individus, avec des taux plus élevés à Ciply et Braives. Pour les trois pathologies, les dents les plus atteintes sont les molaires et, en ce qui concerne les caries, on observe un taux légèrement plus haut du côté droit, laissant penser à une préférence de côté pour la mastication. Concernant l’impact du sexe, les hommes montrent une prédominance de PAM et de caries par rapport aux femmes, mais celles-ci ont une fréquence légèrement plus élevée d’abcès. Comme attendu, les pourcentages de PAM et de caries augmentent avec l’âge chez les adultes. Notre étude révèle que les prévalences des pathologies bucco-dentaires sont influencées par tous les facteurs envisagés. Des inégalités de régime alimentaire et d’hygiène bucco-dentaire pourraient expliquer les différences liées au sexe et à la localisation géographique.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Article Reference Geology, landscapes and natural ornamental stones of the civitas Treverorum.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Article Reference BASE – BAsicranial Sex Estimation: An R package for sexing adult western European individuals from the cranial base morphometry in bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology
Sexing an adult human skeleton from its fragmented remains is a tremendous challenge in both archaeological and forensic contexts. Although reliable sex estimation methods using the os coxae do exist, as well as the possibility of performing a secondary sexual diagnosis within a funerary assemblage, it is essential in the case of fragmented individuals to set up an alternative sex estimation method based on a skeletal element that is both sexually dimorphic and has a high taphonomic survival rate. This study investigated the sexual dimorphism of the cranial base (occipital and temporal bones), through an exclusively metric approach, in 537 identified western European adults. Using logistic regressions, thirteen predictive models were built up, which yielded up to 86.8% accuracy after cross-validation and with a decision threshold of 0.70. BASE is an R package with a graphic user interface that can be used to apply these predictive models to a target adult individual (https://archive.softwareheritage.org/browse/directory/5e3e3753e1f9c360b0ddbebaa2d2b42e5d7686d9). This paper provides measurement definitions, practical details and user recommendations. BASE is a new sex estimation tool which is free of charge, fast and easy to use, and allows anthropologists to collect biological data from larger numbers of individuals, even when their skeletons are highly fragmented and damaged. This new method can certainly contribute to a better understanding of past populations and will be of considerable value to forensic investigations in today’s context of steadily rising numbers of missing persons. BOUCHERIE A. , POLET C. , MARTINE V., LEFÈVRE P., SANTOS F., 2025. BASE – BAsicranial Sex Estimation: An R package for sexing adult western European individuals from the cranial base morphometry in bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. , (2) :
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Article Reference A new longirostrine beaked whale Flandriacetus gijseni gen. et sp. nov. (Ziphiidae, Cetacea, Mammalia) from the Tortonian of the North Sea Basin
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Article Reference Weakened pelagic-benthic coupling on an Arctic outflow shelf (Northeast Greenland) suggested by benthic ecosystem changes
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2024
Article Reference A new gastrotrich, Musellifer leasiae sp. nov. (Paucitubulatina: Muselliferidae), from Antarctica—the first Muselliferidae species description from the Southern Hemisphere
A new gastrotrich species, Musellifer leasiae sp. nov., is described from the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. The species is recognised by its considerable size, up to 415 μm, and by its conspicuous three-lobed, keeled head scales. Besides the new species, the genus Musellifer accommodates five additional species known from the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, the Central-West Atlantic, the Northeast Atlantic, and the Northeast Pacific, and from depths ranging from sublittoral to 5.485 m depth. A representative of Musellifer has previously been reported from Antarctica, but M. leasiae sp. nov. represents the first formally described Muselliferidae species from the Southern Hemisphere, and from the polar regions.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Article Reference Antarctic Kinorhyncha: Seven new species from the Antarctic Peninsula
With only three named species, Antarctica is the continent with the least explored kinorhynch biodiversity. The present contribution provides the most comprehensive study of Antarctic kinorhynchs collected along the coast of the West Antarctic Peninsula. Quantitative samples were collected in three regions along the Peninsula: in Andvord Bay Fjord at the Danco Coast, in the Gerlache Strait, and on the open continental shelf west of the Peninsula. Comparison of the sampling areas suggests that the highest kinorhynch abundance was in the Gerlache Strait, where kinorhynchs were over six times more abundant than in Andvord Bay. Lowest abundance was on the open shelf, where the abundance was four times lower than in Andvord Bay. Among all examined specimens 98% were found in the top 4 cm of the sediment. All adult kinorhynchs were identified, and the study revealed the presence of the known Antarctic species Polacanthoderes shiraseae and at least seven species new to science: Condyloderes notios sp. nov., Polacanthoderes grzelakae sp. nov., Echinoderes ahlfeldae sp. nov., E. nataliae sp. nov., E. kathleenhannae sp. nov., E. antarcticus sp. nov., and E. crux sp. nov. In addition to the five new species of Echinoderes, two potentially known species are reported. Echinoderes aff. angustus shows close resemblance to the Arctic E. angustus, and the specimens only differed by their lack of a midventral fissure in segment 2, present in Arctic specimens of E. angustus only. A detailed examination of the E. angustus type material revealed new diagnostic details for the species, i.e., a complete mapping of sensory spots, presence of a middorsal protuberance between segments 10 and 11, and a tergal division of segment 11. Another unidentified species, Echinoderes aff. beringiensis/romanoi/xalkutaat, showed such close resemblance to three congeners that further studies are needed to identify clear diagnostic characters for the species, or alternatively clarify whether they should be synonymised. The comparisons prompted by the two unidentified species led to the suggestion of a new species group, the Echinoderes remanei species group, including E. remanei, E. angustus, E. beringiensis, E. cernunnos, E. drogoni, E. galadrielae, E. obtuspinosus, E. quasae, E. pennaki, E. romanoi, and E. xalkutaat. In addition, the Echinoderes aragorni species group is proposed, including the New Zealand species E. aragorni and the new species E. crux.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Article Reference Ant–plant relationships in an Amazonian rainforest understory: A network approach
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Article Reference Scolytine beetle diversity along an altitudinal gradient in Papua New Guinea
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
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