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Inferring internal anatomy from the trilobite exoskeleton: the relationship between frontal auxiliary impressions and the digestive system
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The digestive system of trilobites is rarely preserved. As a result, many aspects of its organization remain unknown. Fortunately, the exoskeleton sometimes preserves evidence of soft-tissue attachment sites that can be used to infer internal anatomy. Among them are the frontal auxiliary impressions (FAIs), probable soft-tissue insertion sites located on the fronto-median glabellar lobe of some trilobites. FAIs are herein described in the Carboniferous trilobite Phillipsia belgicaOsmólska 1970– representing the only known example of such structures in the Proetida and their youngest occurrence. A taphonomic scenario is proposed to explain their variable preservation. Although particularly common in the Phacopina, FAIs or FAI-like structures are also found in several orders that differ greatly. Comparisons with modern analogues suggest that FAIs might represent attachment sites for extrinsic muscles associated with a differentiated crop within the foregut. A review of purported remains of the trilobite digestive system indicates that it usually consisted of a tube-like tract flanked by a variable number of metamerically paired diverticulae. Its anterior portion is not particularly individualized, except in a few specimens that might hint at the presence of a crop. This differentiation of a crop might have constituted a secondarily evolution of the foregut in trilobites, occurring independently in different clades. Accompanied by a strengthening of associated extrinsic muscles, this modification of the foregut might explain the presence of more conspicuous muscle insertion sites on the glabella. Study of FAIs might therefore provide new data on the anatomy of the foregut in trilobites and evidence of diverse feeding habits.
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RBINS Staff Publications
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Reducing marine eutrophication may require a paradigmatic change
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RBINS Staff Publications 2018
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Modelling the marine eutrophication: a review
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RBINS Staff Publications 2018
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Shallow-water Holothuroidea (Echinodermata) from Kenya and Pemba Island (Tanzania)
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A total of 225 specimens - representing three orders, four families, 12 genera, 44 species and one variety - collected in the shallow-waters of Kenya and Pemba Island (Tanzania) - are investigated. Bohadschia cousteaui, B. similis, Holothuria (Metriatyla) albiventer; Pearsonothuria graeffei, Thelenota anax, Euapta godeffioyi, Opheodesoma grisea, 0. spectabilis and Synaptula recta are new records for Kenya and from Pemba Island (Tanzania). H. (M) timana is a new record for the western Indian Ocean. Diagnostic characters and descriptions (including some brief notes on the ecology) are given for most species. Identification keys up to the species level are also included. The results are compared to the shallow-water holothuroid biodiversity of the western Indian Ocean. This study stresses the richness of the holothuroid biodiversity of Kenya and Pemba Island. The holothuroid fauna of Kenya (with Pemba Island) is now represented by 48 species.
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The evolution of the cave's entrance of Bruniquel and consequences for its accessibility by early Homo neanderthalensis
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The cave of Bruniquel, discovered by cavers in 1990, contains the oldest evidence of deep cave use by early Homo neanderthalensis. The discovery and dating of speleothem-based structures and fireplaces demonstrated their ability to investigate the deep subterranean environment in a structured way (Jaubert et al., 2016). The cave has been closed by a succession of rockfalls, flowstone layers and scree cone deposits, which led to the preservation of multiple traces of human and animal activity inside the cave. We studied the cave entrance evolution through a multidisciplinary integrated geomorphological approach, combining 3D surveys inside and outside the cave system, high-resolution geomorphological mapping, Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), and U-series dating. The combination of stratigraphic surveys and U-series dating allowed us to date the closure of the cave to before 142.9 ± 1.3 ka, before the Last Interglacial, thus independently confirming the age of the speleothem structures and of the other traces observed on the cave floor. The proposed virtual 3D reconstruction of the palaeo-cave entrance at the beginning of MIS 6, suggests an entrance less than 2 m high, implying that the space behind the entrance was rapidly dark. This work highlights the central importance of understanding the evolution of cave entrances for constraining the timing and the modalities of use of cave systems and provides a new palaeogeographic framework for future studies of the cave's occupation by early Homo neanderthalensis.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2026
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Revealing patterns of nocturnal migration using the European weather radar network
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Nocturnal avian migration flyways remain an elusive concept, as we have largely lacked methods to map their full extent. We used the network of European weather radars to investigate nocturnal bird movements at the scale of the European flyway. We mapped the main migration directions and showed the intensity of movement across part of Europe by extracting biological information from 70 weather radar stations from northern Scandinavia to Portugal, during the autumn migration season of 2016. On average, over the 20 nights and all sites, 389 birds passed per 1 km transect per hour. The night with highest migration intensity showed an average of 1621 birds km–1 h–1 passing the radar stations, but there was considerable geographical and temporal variation in migration intensity. The highest intensity of migration was seen in central France. The overall migration directions showed strong southwest components. Migration dynamics were strongly related to synoptic wind conditions. A wind‐related mass migration event occurred immediately after a change in wind conditions, but quickly diminished even when supporting winds continued to prevail. This first continental‐scale study using the European network of weather radars demonstrates the wealth of information available and its potential for investigating large‐scale bird movements, with consequences for ecosystem function, nutrient transfer, human and livestock health, and civil and military aviation.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2018
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Lepidoptera Collection Curation and Data Management
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RBINS Staff Publications 2021
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Triphoridae (Gastropoda) from the island of Saint Helena and Ascension Island, with the description of three new species
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RBINS Staff Publications 2021
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Euglenes oculatus Paykull, 1798 in de Benelux (Insecta: Coleoptera: Aderidae)
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RBINS Staff Publications 2019
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Étude des restes humains de Kindoki (République démocratique du Congo, fin XVIIe –début XIXe siècle)
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Résumé Nous présentons l'étude anthropologique de dix individus provenant d'un cimetière situé sur la colline de Kindoki au Kongo central (RDC). Ils ont été exhumés en 2012 et 2013 dans le cadre du projet KongoKing qui consistait en une approche interdisciplinaire de l'histoire ancienne du royaume Kongo. Ce cimetière contient des inhumations datées du xviie au xixe siècle, très probablement celles de nobles de haut rang. Les défunts étaient accompagnés d'un mobilier funéraire (perles de verre, sabres, bijoux en or, mousquet). Les restes humains sont malheureusement très mal conservés. Certains ne sont représentés que par quelques fragments osseux ou dentaires. Parmi les dix défunts, on note la présence de deux femmes et de huit hommes. Deux individus masculins présentent des usures dentaires qui résulteraient de l'utilisation d'une pipe. Les deux femmes seraient âgées de plus de 40 ans et se caractérisent par des signes vertébraux évocateurs de DISH (diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis). Cette pathologie est actuellement associée à une alimentation riche, à l'obésité et au diabète de type II. Il n'est donc pas surprenant qu'elle touche ces individus de statut élevé. Le DISH n'avait encore jamais été décrit dans une population ancienne d'Afrique centrale. Abstract This paper presents an anthropological study of ten individuals from a cemetery situated on Kindoki Hill in the central Kongo region (DRC). They were excavated in 2012 and 2013 as part of the KongoKing project (2012–2016), which applied an interdisciplinary approach to the ancient history of the Kingdom of Kongo. The cemetery contains graves dated to the 17th–19th century, very probably those of high-ranking nobles. The dead were buried with various grave goods (glass beads, swords, gold jewels and muskets). The human remains were unfortunately very badly preserved. Some were represented only by a few bone fragments and/or teeth. Of the ten bodies, two were female and eight were male. Two of the men showed dental wear as a result of pipe-smoking. The two women were probably more than 40 years of age at the time of death. The vertebrae showed signs that evoke diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), a pathological condition associated today with a rich diet, obesity and type II diabetes. It is therefore not surprising that these conditions might have affected high-status individuals. Until now, DISH had never been described in an ancient Central African population.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2018
