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Fitness-heterozygosity associations differ between male and female winter moths Operophtera brumata L.
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The association between heterozygosity and fitness is positive but weak on average and varies between studies. inbreeding has been invoked as the driving force between the positive heterozygosity-fitness associations, yet in spatio-temporally stable environments a negative correlation is expected. Furthermore, different patterns can arise because of the effects of natural selection on different loci and variation can be expected among groups of individuals that experience different levels of stress. In this paper we report on fitness-heterozygosity associations in the winter moth for six allozyme loci. The relationship is estimated for males and females separately, in four areas differing in their degree of fragmentation, and variation among loci is modelled. We introduce a linear mixed model framework to achieve this analysis. This approach differs from more traditional (multiple) regression analyses and allows testing specific interactions. We show that fitness, as estimated by body size, is negatively correlated with heterozygosity, but only so in females. This association does not vary significantly among loci and the four areas. We speculate that a trade-off between fitness-consequences of inbreeding and outbreeding at different stages of the winter moth life cycle could explain the observed patterns.
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Associated publications
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Belgian Journal of Zoology
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Bibliographic References
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Five new species of Candoninae (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from the alluvial valley of the Upper Paraná River (Brazil, South America)
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RBINS Staff Publications
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Five New Species of Homoscleromorpha (Porifera) from the Caribbean Sea
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Five new species of Homoscleromorpha (Porifera) of four genera, Oscarella, Plakortis, Plakina and Corticium, are described from vertical walls of reef caves at depths ranging from 23 to 28 m in the Caribbean Sea. Oscarella nathaliae sp. nov. has a leaf-like thinly encrusting, flat body, loosely attached to the substrate and a perforated, not lobate surface. Oscarella nathaliae sp. nov. contains two bacterial morphotypes and is characterized by two mesohylar cell types with inclusions. Plakortis myrae sp. nov. has diods of two categories: abundant large ones (83–119 mm long) and rare small ones (67–71 mm long) with sinuous, S-bent centres; triods Y- or T-shaped (18–5 mm long), and abundant microrhabds (5–12 mm long). Plakortis edwardsi sp. nov. has diods of one category with thick, sinuous, S-bent centres (110 to 128 mm long); triods T-shaped (actines 28–59 mm long). It is the only species of this genus showing small diods (22–31 mm long). Plakortis dariae sp. nov. has diods of two categories: large ones (67–112 mm long) and small, rare, irregular ones, slightly curved, often deformed with one end blunt (30–59 mm long); triods rare and regular (actines 20–44 mm long long). Corticium diamantense sp. nov. has oscula situated near its border, regular non-lophose calthrops of one size class, very rare tetralophose calthrops and candelabra with the fourth actine ramified basally in 4–5 microspined rays. In addition, a re-description of Plakina jamaicensis Lehnert & van Soest 1998 is based on newly collected material and the type specimen. P. jamaicensis has a convoluted brainlike surface; well developed sub-ectosomal cavities; irregular sinuous diods, triods, calthrops, rare monolophose calthrops, rare dilophose calthrops, rare trilophose calthrops and common tetralophose calthrops. Molecular ‘barcoding’ sequences for mitochondrial cob are given for Plakortis edwardsi sp. nov., P. dariae sp. nov., Plakina jamaicensis and Corticium diamantense sp. nov. An identification key for all western Atlantic Homoscleromorpha is provided.
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RBINS Staff Publications
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Five new species of the Candoninae (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from the alluvial valley of the Upper Parana River (Brazil, South America)
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RBINS Staff Publications
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Flabellopteris lococannensis gen. et sp. nov.: A new fern-like plant from the Famennian of South Africa
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A new fossil plant, Flabellopteris lococannensis Gess and Prestianni gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Famennian of South Africa. This plant is interpreted as monopodial in habit with a first order axis that only occasionally dichotomizes. The lateral organs (both branches and appendages) are borne spirally on all branching orders and a 1/3 organotaxy is suggested. The first order axes bear both second order axes and fertile appendages at the same nodes. Axes of the second and third branching orders bear appendages made of several isotomous dichotomies. Recurved paired sporangia are borne on dichotomizing appendages that are like the vegetative appendages. The plant bears some similarity to the Iridopteridales but also to the Late Devonian Rhacophytales and to the Lower Carboniferous fernlike plant Chlidanophyton dublinensis. The architecture of the plant is briefly discussed and its implication on the evolution of the frond is considered.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2022
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Flavina dayi sp. nov., a new species of Parahiraciini planthopper from Thailand (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Issidae).
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RBINS Staff Publications 2026
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Flies in the centennial Botanic Garden Jean Massart (Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium)
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RBINS Staff Publications 2023 OA
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Flint formation and astronomical pacing in the Maastrichtian chalk of northwestern Europe
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In Upper Cretaceous chalk sequences, the widespread occurrence of flint, as well as a possible astronomical pacing of their often-encountered rhythmic distribution, remains poorly constrained. The Campanian-Maastrichtian Hallembaye chalk succession (Maastrichtian type area, northeast Belgium) is characterized by the gradual evolution from no flint bands at its base to the regular presence of well-developed flint bands at its top. Here, the Hallembaye section is investigated to gain more insights into the underlying processes behind flint inception. A relationship is found between the amount of detrital material (i.e., clays) present in the chalk and flints, and the extent of silicification and flint development. Several astronomical cycles are identified within the succession using both a lithology-based flint proxy and high-resolution μXRF-based element data from chalk samples. A combined imprint of precession and obliquity is documented in the chalk Ti/Al profile. The flint bands display a predominant obliquity imprint with an increasing contribution of precession and eccentricity up-section. Two consistent stratigraphically integrated astronomical age models are preferred. The first model is a floating age model that is based on the minimal tuning of the short obliquity cycle in the Ti/Al signal. The second model is a numerical age model that is based on flint occurrences, tuned to a combined tuning target consisting of both the inclination and long eccentricity metronomes. Temporal variations in the hydrological cycle and consequent changes in eolian, fluvial and dissolved Si input to the European Basin appear astronomically controlled. In addition, flint nodules and bands are paced by Milankovitch timescales, reflecting astronomical control on the Si cycle and paleoenvironmental conditions governing conditions favorable towards flint formation.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2025
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Flocculation dynamics of suspended particulate matter under various tidal conditions
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Understanding the flocculation dynamics of suspended particulate matter is essential for a comprehensive understanding of sediment transport in estuarine and coastal ecosystems. Field observations were conducted during both spring and neap tidal cycles at two contrasting sites, the highly turbulent, low-salinity Xuliujing site of the Yangtze River estuary, and the weakly turbulent, high-salinity Belgian coastal station MOW1. The two sites exhibited different flocculation dynamics and floc size distributions (FSDs). At Xuliujing, strong river discharge and pronounced ebb dominance intensified turbulent shear, making the fragmentation of flocs the governing process. This resulted in multimodal FSDs with high proportions of microflocs (∼13 μm) and macroflocs (∼55 μm). In contrast, at MOW1, high salinity and relatively weak, symmetric tidal currents favored salt-enhanced aggregation, resulting in larger, more stable flocs and more uniform FSDs. These contrasts indicate that in freshwater environments, turbulence controls both aggregation and breakup, whereas in saline waters, salinity governs aggregation and turbulence primarily limits the maximum size of flocs. Furthermore, a one-dimensional vertical hydrodynamic model coupled with a population balance flocculation model demonstrated satisfactory accuracy in simulating current velocities, suspended particulate matter concentrations, and FSDs at both sites, showing its capability to capture flocculation dynamics under different environmental conditions.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2026
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Flocculation kinetics and mechanisms of microalgae- and clay-containing suspensions in different microalgal growth phases
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RBINS Staff Publications 2022 OA
