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Article Reference From theory to pracftice: a photographic inventory of Museum collections to optimize collection management
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018
Article Reference FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE: A PHOTOGRAPHIC INVENTORY OF MUSEUM COLLECTIONS TO OPTIMIZE COLLECTION MANAGEMENT
The digitization of museum specimens is a key priority in the Digital Era. Digital databases help to avoid unnecessary manipulation hazards to delicate collections, increase their accessibility to third party researchers, and contribute to the ongoing documentation of global biodiversity. Time, workforce and the need of specialized infrastructures limit the processing of the vast number of specimens in natural history collections. Cheaper, easy-to-use methods and volunteer programs are developing quickly to help bridge the gap. We present the results of combining citizen science for the digitization of an entomological collection in conjunction with the cooperation of a taxonomic expert for the remote identification of samples. In addition, we provide an assessment of the avoided monetary costs and the time needed for each step of the process. A photographic inventory of specimens belonging to the leaf beetle genus Calligrapha was compiled by volunteers using a low-cost compact camera and the species were identified using these images. Using digital photographs allowed for a rapid screening of specimens in the collection and resulted in an updated taxonomic identification of the Calligrapha collection at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. The pictures of the specimens and their original labels, as well as the new information from this endeavor were placed in an online public catalogue. This study demonstrates a worked example of how digitization has led to a practical, useful outcome through cooperation with an end user and highlights the value of museum collection digitization projects
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018
Article Reference Frontal sinuses and human evolution
The frontal sinuses are cavities inside the frontal bone located at the junction between the face and the cranial vault and close to the brain. Despite a long history of study, understanding of their origin and variation through evolution is limited. This work compares most hominin species’ holotypes and other key individuals with extant hominids. It provides a unique and valuable perspective of the variation in sinuses position, shape, and dimensions based on a simple and reproducible methodology. We also observed a covariation between the size and shape of the sinuses and the underlying frontal lobes in hominin species from at least the appearance of Homo erectus. Our results additionally undermine hypotheses stating that hominin frontal sinuses were directly affected by biomechanical constraints resulting from either chewing or adaptation to climate. Last, we demonstrate their substantial potential for discussions of the evolutionary relationships between hominin species. Variation in frontal sinus shape and dimensions has high potential for phylogenetic discussion when studying human evolution.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022
Article Reference Fruits and seeds from the Tienen Formation at Dormaal, Palaeocene–Eocene transition in eastern Belgium
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Fungus gnats in the Botanic Garden Jean Massart: an amazing diversity beyond the naked eye (Diptera: Diadocidiidae, Ditomyiidae, Bolitophilidae, Keroplatidae, Mycetophilidae)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2023 OA
Article Reference Further consideration of the curvature of the Neandertal Femur
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018
Article Reference Further new country records of African tiger beetles, with some taxonomic notes (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae)
Located in Library / RBINS collections by external author(s)
Article Reference Further records of Odonata from Timor Island, with the first photographs of living Nosoticta impercepta (Odonata: Platycnemididae) and additional records from Rote and Romang Islands
Located in Library / RBINS collections by external author(s)
Article Reference Galliformes, Upupiformes, Trogoniformes, and other avian remains (?Phaethontiformes and ?Threskiornithidae) from the Rupelian stratotype in Belgium, with comments on the identity of “Anas” benedeni Sharpe, 1899
We describe new avian fossils from the Boom Formation of Belgium, which almost double the number of bird taxa known from this part of the Rupelian stratotype. Three galliform species can, at least tentatively, be assigned to the paraortygid species Paraortyx brancoi, P. lorteti, and Pirortyx major. Among the fossils is a partial sternum, which shows that Paraortyx lacks a spina interna. The absence of this structure is plesiomorphic for Galliformes and probably related to the absence of a large crop, thus indicating that Paraortygidae were not yet adapted to the regular processing of coarse and dry food. Two distal humeri belong to Trogoniformes (trogons) and Upupiformes (hoopoes, woodhoopoes, and allies), respectively. A femur is tentatively assigned to Phaethontiformes (tropicbirds), and a carpometacarpus is, likewise tentatively, referred to Threskiornithidae (ibises and spoonbills). We finally comment on the affinities of “Anas” benedeni Sharpe, 1899 and detail that this species most likely belongs to Gaviiformes (loons).
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Ganganomala saltini Ratcliffe, Jameson and Zorn, a new genus and species of Anomalini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) from Bangladesh and Nepal, with a revised Circumscription of the Tribe
Located in Library / RBINS collections by external author(s)