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Article Reference Growth changes in plaice, cod, haddock and saithe in the North Sea: a comparison of (post-)medieval and present-day growth rates based on otolith measurements
Fishing effort has strongly increased in the North Sea since the mid-19th century, causing a substantial reduction in the population size of exploited fish stocks. As fisheries research has developed simultaneously with the industrialisation of the fisheries, our knowledge of population dynamics at low levels of exploitations is limited. Otoliths retrieved from archaeological excavations offer a unique opportunity to study growth rates in the past. This study compares historical and present-day growth rates for four commercially important demersal fish species. A total of 2532 modern otoliths (AD 1984–1999) and 1286 historical otoliths (AD 1200–1925) obtained from archaeological excavations in Belgium and Scotland were analysed. Comparison of the growth patterns between eras revealed a major increase in growth rate of haddock, whereas growth changes were not observed in saithe and only in the smaller size classes of plaice and cod. Comparison of our results with literature data indicates that the observed growth rate changes in plaice and cod occurred within the 20th century. Apparently the onset of industrialised fisheries has not greatly affected the growth of plaice, cod and saithe populations in the North Sea. This result contradicts the expectation of density-dependent limitation of growth during the era of pre-industrialised fishing, but is in agreement with the concentration hypothesis of Beverton (Neth. J. Sea Res. 34 (1995) 1) stating that species which concentrate spatially into nursery grounds during their early life-history may ‘saturate’ the carrying capacity of the juvenile habitat even though the adult part of the population is not limited by the adult habitat.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference The ancient fish fauna from Asa Koma (Djibouti) and modern osteometric data on 3 Tilapiini and 2 Clarias catfish species
The fi sh fauna is presented from Asa Koma; a prehistoric site dated around 1800 cal BC and located in Djibouti near Lake Abhé. The site comprises numerous hearths from which the fi sh bones that form the majority of the faunal remains were recovered. Only two fi sh species occur, namely Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus, which are also the two major taxa occurring in the saline lake today. The skeletal element distribution and the frequency of charred remains were analysed and, in addition, detailed size reconstructions were carried out. On the basis of modern skeletons from 47 tilapia and 39 Clarias, the metrical relationship between fi sh length and individual bone measurements (32 measuring distances for tilapia and 40 for Clarias) was established with the aid of the “least squares method”. The equations are all listed for future use by other researchers. The fi sh and other fauna do not allow a precise environmental reconstruction, but the large size of the Clarias possibly indicates less saline conditions than today. Using the reconstructed sizes of the fi sh from Asa Koma, modern data on the behaviour of the species, ethnographic and archaeological parallels, and palaeohydrological data, attempts are made to establish the most likely season of fi shing, the possible location of the fi shing grounds, and the fi shing methods that may have been used. Finally, the possible fi sh preparation and fi sh processing methods are discussed.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference An identification key for dermal denticles of Rajidae from the North Sea
As a result of more systematic fine sieving on archaeological sites, dermal denticles and isolated teeth of rays are now more frequently recovered than before. A detailed description of the teeth is available in the literature, but no comparative study of the morphology of the dermal denticles exists that allows the identification of such elements issued from archaeological sites. A key and illustrations are provided for the identification of the dermal denticles of 10 ray species from the North Sea. In addition, the ray denticles have been analysed from seven medieval and postmedieval sites showing their potential for the interpretation of ichthyo-archaeological assemblages.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference On the use of endosteal layers and medullary bone from domestic fowl in archaeozoological studies
The very high incidence of medullary bone in two archaeozoological assemblages of the Roman period was believed to reflect systematic slaughtering of older hens at the end of the egg laying season. In an attempt to test this hypothesis, histological analyses were carried out. Histological data in the literature on ageing of modern fowl and on the development of medullary bone in hens are insufficient for application to archaeozoological material. Bones of modern fowl of known age were analysed with the aim of validating the use of endosteal layers for ageing. In addition, hens with known egg laying stage were studied in order to try and document differences in medullary bone development that could be related to the time of slaughtering (just before, during, or just after the egg laying season).
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Fish otoliths and their relevance to archaeology: an analysis of medieval, post-medieval and recent material of plaice, cod and haddock from the North Sea
The growth increments were investigated of late medieval, post-medieval and modern otoliths of plaice, cod and haddock from the North Sea. Thin-sectioned otoliths were used to age all the analysed individuals and to reconstruct their growth patterns. In addition, fish lengths of the archaeological specimens were calculated after the relation between otolith width and fish length was established using modern material. The age and fish length distribution, and the growth patterns obtained on the archaeological material allow inferences about fish trade, market strategies and consumption behaviour on producer sites (coastal sites) and consumer sites. Differences in growth patterns were observed between the archaeological and recent populations of the three demersal species analysed which may be related to a change in fishing pressure through time. However, diachronic changes in species distribution, temperature, food availability and selection of catch in function of market strategies may have played a role as well. Age and body size data allow some inferences about the exploited fishing grounds, but the growth patterns are of limited use in this respect.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Applicability of DNA barcoding to museum specimens of birds from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The ornithological collections of the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels contain approximately 155 000 specimens collected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) . They include type specimens and other samples from historical populations that represent an exceptional source of information for exploring how habitat fragmentation due to deforestation or global climate changes affect patterns of biodiversity in African birds . By attempting to obtain DNA sequences from these archive collections we intend to make them useful for genetic studies and to contribute to a reference library of DNA sequences, thus allowing the future iden- tification of Central African bird species through DNA barcodes . Our project aims to sequence approximately 950 mu- seum specimens, representing 225 species, collected between 1845 and 2008 . Our preliminary results reveal that the degradation of DNA in most museum specimens does not allow the amplification of the standard DNA barcode fragment (694 bp) . Nevertheless, we have been able to sequence shorter fragments (298 bp and 100 bp) for the majority of the selected specimens, implying that the collections in the RMCA and the RBINS contain DNA information that remains useful for barcoding purposes . More elaborate experiments might yield longer DNA sequences for phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies .
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Présence du genre Wyonycteris (Mammalia, Lipotyphla) à la limite Paléocène-Eocène en Europe
A new species of insectivore, Wyonycteris richardi, is described on the basis of mandible fragments and isolated cheek teeth of the Early Eocene from Dormaal (Belgium), at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary. Nycticonodon and ?Adapisoriculus from Dormaal, and cf. Adapisoriculus from Fordones (France) are considered synonymous with the genus Wyonycteris from Wyoming (USA). Wyonycteris appears to be neither a typical bat nor a nyctitheriid but probably is related to evolved adapisoriculids.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Diacodexis gigasei n. sp., le plus ancien Artiodactyle (Mammalia) belge, proche de la limite Paléocène-Eocène
Les données acquises au cours de fouilles récentes ainsi que la mise en commun du matériel de plusieurs collections du gisement de Dormaal (localitt de référence du Niveau-Repère MP 7) ont permis de rassembler une douzaine de dents jugales de Diacodrxis. L'étude de ce matériel et sa comparaison avec diverses espèces primitives de Diacodrxis de I'Eocène inftrieur d'Europe, d'Amtrique du Nord et d'Asie ont permis de définir la nouvelle espèce, Diacodexis gigasri. Une position phylogénttique est proposée pour cette nouvelle espèce.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Leptacodon dormaalensis (Mammalia, Lipotyphla), un nyctithère primitif de la transition Paléocène-Eocène de Belgique
Gypsonictops dormaalensis Quinet, 1964, décrit à l'origine à partir d'une unique P4/, est attribué au genre Leptucodon. L'espèce L. clormaalensis est redécrite sur la base de fragments mandibulaires et de dents jugales isolées provenant du Landénien supérieur de Dormaal (Belgique), près de la limite Paléocène-Eocéne. La comparaison du Leptacodon belge avec les autres espèces du genre indique que celui-ci est proche de l'espèce-îype L. tener Matthew & Granger, 1921 et semble posséder avec ce dernier. ainsi que L. rosei Gingerich, 1987, les caractères morphologiques les plus primitifs des nyctithères. La phylogénie du genre Leptucodon est également discutée et le genre Plc~gioctenodon Bown, 1979 est considéré comme synonyme du genre Leptacodon.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Synthèse des données actuelles sur les vertébrés de la transition Paléocène-Eocène de Dormaal (Belgique)
La présente note fournit un historique des découvertes et travaux concernant les vertébrés fossiles de Dormaal (Brabant, Belgique). Une coupe de la dernière fouille entreprise à Dormaal en 1990 est présentée, ainsi qu'un aperçu stratigraphique du gisement tenant compte du nouveau classement lithostratigraphique du Paléogène en Belgique. La liste faunique des vertébrés est réactualisée et des perspectives paléoécologiques et biostratigraphiques sont offertes par les nouvelles collections.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications