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Valuation of ecosystem services in marine protected areas: A comprehensive review of methods and needed developments
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Effectively managing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) requires recognising and understanding the fundamental services offered by marine ecosystems and the socio-economic consequences that their changes will have. A systematic literature review was performed to generate a first in-detail screening and assessment of monetary and non-monetary methods for the valuation of ecosystem services (ES) and their application in MPAs and MPA networks. A total of 100 peer-reviewed papers on ES valuation within MPAs and MPA networks were identified and analysed. Valuation methods can be classified into nine monetary and seven non-monetary methodologies. There is a predominant use of monetary valuation methodologies, especially stated preference methods. However, combining monetary with non-monetary valuation approaches can provide deeper insights into the underlying reasons for assigning values to ES and offer enhanced opportunities to capture the value of services that may be challenging to express solely in monetary terms. Besides, the review underscores the gaps in assessment methodologies, particularly in addressing supporting and regulating ES, as well as non-use and option values related to MPAs, underscoring the need for innovative approaches to overcome challenges in capturing these essential components of marine ecosystems.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2024
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Tidal inlets in the Anthropocene: Geomorphology and benthic habitats of the Chioggia inlet, Venice Lagoon (Italy)
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RBINS Staff Publications 2019
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A three-species problem: a further example of homeomorphy in freshwater Ostracoda (Crustacea), with the description of a new genus and new species from a Brazilian river
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Homeomorphy is common in the valves and carapaces of Ostracoda. One of the best-known examples in non-marine ostracods is the morphological similarity in the extreme armature of anterior and posterior spines on the left valve in both Strandesia bicornuta Hartmann, 1964 from India and in Rudjakoviella prolongata (Triebel, 1962) Malz, 1973 from Margarita Island (West Indies). Here, we describe a third representative with such armature, Pseudocypricercus bonito gen. nov. spec. nov. from Brazil. These new taxa belong to the Cypricercinae McKenzie, 1971, which is characterized by the presence of the Triebel's loop in the middle of the attachment of the caudal ramus. The main characteristics of Pseudocypricercus gen. nov. are the shape and length of the β seta on the mandibular palp, which is slender and elongated, compared to other genera of this subfamily; the absence of seta d on the first thoracopod, and the absence of seta d2 on the second thoracopod, amongst other features. Pseudocypricercus bonito gen. nov. spec. nov. also has large anterior and posterior spines on the left valve as well as a posterior spine and the anterior blunt protrusion on the right valve. In addition, both the mandibular coxa and the third endite of the maxillula have remarkable large fist-like setae, while the male right prehensive palp has a perpendicularly positioned second segment. The similar armature on left valve and right valve in this taxon makes the homeomorphy known from R. prolongata and S. bicornuta into a “three-species problem”.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2026
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Safeguarding Ecosystem Services Amid Threats: Stakeholder-driven Prioritization of Conservation Measures for the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve in Bénin
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The Pendjari National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in northern Bénin, West Africa, constitutes one of the last refuges for African megafauna in the region. It is threatened by many factors, such as ecosystem degradation, insecurity and poaching. Getting insights into the perceptions of all stakeholders having an interest for and/or an influence on the park is key to inform an effective management of the protected area and its unique biodiversity. We therefore identified priority conservation and management measures through a participatory approach adopting elements of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. A structured priority-setting exercise involving scientists, local authorities, park managers and representatives of local communities led to the formulation of over 70 conservation and management measures addressing prioritized threats on three priority ecosystem services provided by the Pendjari ecosystem: food supply, water supply and tourism. A group consensus was reached on measures implying more organic farming in the area (both to preserve food and to secure water supply), improved land use planning, soil fertility improvement practices, reinforcement of water supply through pumps, maintenance of tracks, advocacy towards private lodges, and promotional communication. The study concludes that conservation outcomes can be enhanced through stronger local stakeholder ownership and the implementation of practical measures based on the long-term provision of a diverse set of ecosystem services. It also highlights the multiple benefits of participatory decision-making in the context of a UNESCO Biosphere reserve, which serves as living laboratory to foster sustainable human-nature relationships.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2026
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Introduced or established? Convergent evidence indicates imported pine wood nematode vectors occupy gaps in native distribution
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Monitoring regulated quarantine plant pathogens and, when relevant, their vectors is compulsory in the European Union. Local Monochamus species (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) vector the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, a non-native pest already established in most of Portugal. Only 29 M. galloprovincialis individuals were trapped in Belgium in ten years (2013–2022), despite a dense coverage of pheromone-baited traps, suggesting absence or a very rare local occurrence in the country. In the northern neighbouring countries, only one single established population is known in The Netherlands and one in Denmark. A species distribution model based on pheromone-trap catches (negative and positive) of M. galloprovincialis from 4,914 traps in 29 European countries between 2008 and 2019 was developed, using the overall climate conditions and the distribution of seven pine tree species as explanatory variables. The effect of spatial scale was tested with a multi-scale approach. With a 225*225 km spatial grain, the major explanatory variables were the mean diurnal temperature range and, to a lesser extent, the presence of Pinus spp. The model predicted a low probability of presence in Belgium, the Netherlands, Great Britain and north-western Germany compared to southern Europe. Genotyping allowed to conclude that at least some of the beetles caught in Belgium originated from foreign locations. All catches were located close to entry points, suggesting introduction with imported material. The small size of most of the Belgian pine stands may also explain the absence or apparently transient status, or rareness of Monochamus spp. This study thus suggests that surveys in Belgium should privilege entry points rather than local forest stands.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2026 OA
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Marine Chersodromia Walker (Diptera: Hybotidae) from the Mediterranean coastline of Morocco: description of three new species with new records, supported by COI barcoding/strong
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Three new species for science of Chersodromia Walker are described from the Moroccan Mediterranean coastline (C. kessabae sp. nov., C. moroccensis sp. nov. and C. estuaria sp. nov.), with the first record of Chersodromia oraria Collin, 1966 in Morocco and new distributional data are provided for Chersodromia pseudohirta Chvála, 1970. This study is based on intensive field surveys conducted by the third author along the Mediterranean coastline of Morocco between 2022 and 2024, targeting especially a variety of coastal habitats. Illustrations of the new species are given, along with COI barcodes of all species recorded. A key to the Moroccan Mediterranean species of Chersodromia is also provided.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2026
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Brain size reduction in dogs was already established at least by the Late Neolithic of Western Europe, 5000 years ago
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The timing and causes of brain size reduction in domestic dogs remain uncertain. Using endocast volume as a proxy for brain size, this study provides a first insight into long-term brain size evolution in the wolf-dog lineage. We compared endocranial volumes of 185 modern and 22 prehistoric wolves and dogs ranging from Western Europe to Australia, and spanning the Pleniglacial (35 000 yr BP) to the Late Neolithic (5000 yr BP). Our results reveal that Pleistocene so-called ‘protodogs’ show no brain size reduction compared with coeval Pleistocene wolves. Instead, we observed a slightly larger relative endocranial volume in the 35 000-year-old 'protodog' from Goyet, which could suggest increased behavioural flexibility in the presence of humans. In contrast, Late Neolithic dogs show a drastic brain size reduction (46\%) with endocranial volumes comparable to modern small terrier and toy breeds. We speculate that the anxious and wary temperaments of these Late Neolithic dogs, induced by the brain tissue reorganization associated with such a size reduction, could have served an alerting purpose, among the many other potential roles dogs could have played within these Late Neolithic socio-ecosystems.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2026 OA
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Description of a new species of Platypalpus of the candicans - cursitans subgroup from the Peloponnesus, Greece (Diptera: Hybotidae, Tachydromiinae)
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RBINS Staff Publications 2020
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Description of a peculiar new species of the genus Platypalpus Macquart, 1827 (Diptera: Hybotidae) from the Caucasus
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RBINS Staff Publications 2020
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Two new Drapetis species (Diptera: Hybotidae) from Sweden
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RBINS Staff Publications 2020
