-
Regional differences in vertebral shape along the axial skeleton in caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona)
-
Abstract Caecilians are elongate, limbless and annulated amphibians that, as far as is known, all have an at least partly fossorial lifestyle. It has been suggested that elongate limbless vertebrates show little morphological differentiation throughout the postcranial skeleton. However, relatively few studies have explored the axial skeleton in limbless tetrapods. In this study, we used ?CT data and three-dimensional geometric morphometrics to explore regional differences in vertebral shape across a broad range of caecilian species. Our results highlight substantial differences in vertebral shape along the axial skeleton, with anterior vertebrae being short and bulky, whereas posterior vertebrae are more elongated. This study shows that despite being limbless, elongate tetrapods such as caecilians still show regional heterogeneity in the shape of individual vertebrae along the vertebral column. Further studies are needed, however, to understand the possible causes and functional consequences of the observed variation in vertebral shape in caecilians.
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2022
-
Regional heritage stone diversity in stone-poor landscapes, the example of northern Belgium.
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2023
-
Relation between mitochondrial DNA hyperdiversity, mutation rate and mitochondrial genome evolution in Melarhaphe neritoides (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) and other Caenogastropoda
-
Mitochondrial DNA hyperdiversity is primarily caused by high mutation rates (µ) and has potential implications for mitogenome architecture and evolution. In the hyperdiverse mtDNA of Melarhaphe neritoides (Gastropoda: Littorinidae), high mutational pressure generates unusually large amounts of synonymous variation, which is expected to (1) promote changes in synonymous codon usage, (2) reflect selection at synonymous sites, (3) increase mtDNA recombination and gene rearrangement, and (4) be correlated with high mtDNA substitution rates. The mitogenome of M. neritoides was sequenced, compared to closely related littorinids and put in the phylogenetic context of Caenogastropoda, to assess the influence of mtDNA hyperdiversity and high µ on gene content and gene order. Most mitogenome features are in line with the trend in Mollusca, except for the atypical secondary structure of the methionine transfer RNA lacking the TΨC-loop. Therefore, mtDNA hyperdiversity and high µ in M. neritoides do not seem to affect its mitogenome architecture. Synonymous sites are under positive selection, which adds to the growing evidence of non-neutral evolution at synonymous sites. Under such non-neutrality, substitution rate involves neutral and non-neutral substitutions, and high µ is not necessarily associated with high substitution rate, thus explaining that, unlike high µ, a high substitution rate is associated with gene order rearrangement.
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2018
-
Remarks on Hymenoptera on urban green roofs in Belgium
-
In this paper we discuss all Hymenoptera (10.085 specimens) caught on several urban green roofs in Belgium during 2020 and 2021. We thereby try to connect species’ ecology and the specific habitat of extensive green roofs. Based on these findings we suggest what life communities can indeed be expected there. Six species on 120 taxa discovered are first reported for Belgium: Gonatopus lunatus (var. bifasciatus) Klug, 1810 (Aculeata: Dryinidae); Synacra paupera Macek, 1995 (Parasitica: Diapriidae); Alysia lucicola Haliday, 1838, Idiasta dichrocera Konigsmann, 1960 and Leiophron deficiens (Ruthe, 1856) (Parasitica: Braconidae) and Gelis declivis Forster, 1850 (Parasitica: Ichneumonidae).
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2023 OA
-
Reply to “Comment on “Ecological niche of Neanderthals from Spy Cave revealed by nitrogen isotopes of individual amino acids in collagen.” [J. Hum. Evol. 93 (2016) 82–90]” [J. Hum. Evol. 117 (2018) 53–55]
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2018
-
Reptiles of Venezuela: an updated and commented checklist
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications
-
Resultaten van een Malaisevalcampagne in de vallei van de Zeverenbeek (Deinze, Oost-Vlaanderen, België)
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications
-
Results of ant collections on Santa Cruz Island within the framework of the 2012 Global Taxonomy Initiative Ant Course at Galapagos (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications
-
Results of ant collections on Santa Cruz Island within the framework of the 2012 Global Taxonomy Initiative Ant Course at Galápagos (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
-
During a ten-days ant course carried out in November 2012 within the framework of a Belgian Focal Point to the Global Taxonomy Initiative GTI type 2 grant, eight students and four instructors collected 22 ant species at ten sites distributed along an altitudinal gradient on Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos Archipelago (Ecuador). Disturbed and urbanized zones as well as natural areas were visited. We discuss the results and link the collected species to altitude and vegetation types occurring on Santa Cruz Island.
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications
-
Results of the Rumphius Biohistorical Expedition to Ambon (1990). Part 18. The Rissoinidae and Zebinidae (Gastropoda: Caenogastropoda)
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2021