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Webpublished Reference Coastal Marsh Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise Is Exacerbated by Plant Species Invasion
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Webpublished Reference C source code Spatial distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in natural and restored intertidal wetlands in the Scheldt estuary
Due to high human activity in coastal ecosystems, tidal marshes have become one of the most threatened natural ecosystems on the planet, with a significant decline in their ecosystem services as a result. The tidal marshes, flats and channel networks of estuaries each have their own distinct hydrodynamics, sedimentology and ecology which may affect the environmental fate and behaviour of pollutants. Intertidal areas may retain pollutants, hence impacting organisms that live, forage, or breed in these areas. Therefore, we investigated the spatial distribution of PFAS in sediments of intertidal areas in the Scheldt estuary (N Belgium & SW Netherlands), and to what extent this varies between different eco-geomorphic zones and between an old natural intertidal site (drowned land of Saeftinghe) and recently restored intertidal site (Hedwige-Prosperpolder; HPP), where tides were re-introduced. Furthermore, we investigated whether this distribution is affected by sediment characteristics and distance from the estuarine main channel. Associations between PFAS levels in sediments from the marshes and plants were investigated. Finally, we compared PFAS levels prior and after re-introduction of tides in the restoration site. Our results show signs of both historical and recent PFAS emissions, and suggest that the geomorphology of intertidal areas could play a role in the spatial distribution of PFAS in sediments. In general, the vegetation and the higher intertidal elevation in the marshes slow down currents, causing more deposition of finer sediment and higher PFAS concentrations. Distance from the estuarine main channel, grain size and organic matter content were less determining factors in the environmental fate. The re-introduction of tidal flooding in HPP leads to an enrichment with PFAS. Three PFAS were detected prior to tidal re-introduction, whereas eight PFAS were detected after. Concentrations of PFOS, PFOA and PFBS were respectively 12x, 3x and 5x higher after re-introduction. Although environmental risks in the intertidal areas were not assessed in this study, the enrichment could be beneficial for the Scheldt estuary and North Sea, as PFAS are filtered from the estuary and ecological risks in the estuary and adjacent sea are likely reduced. Moreover, removal of contaminated sediment beds and plants from intertidal areas would allow for remediation of the ecosystem, something which is more difficult when the pollution stays in the estuarine channel or sea.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Inproceedings Reference 3D imaging showdown: A Comparative Study of high-resolution 3D Imaging Techniques for Museum Collections
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Inproceedings Reference Toward a Unified Platform for the Digital Twins of the Specimens of Natural History Collections
The digitization of natural history collections is revolutionizing the preservation and utilization of biological and geological specimens. These collections, encompassing diverse ecosystems and time periods, are invaluable for scientific research, education, and conservation. However, physical specimens face challenges such as degradation, limited accessibility, and logistical difficulties. Digitization addresses these issues by converting specimens into high-resolution digital formats, preserving their integrity and making them widely accessible. This presentation explores the development of a unified platform for the digital twins of natural history specimens, focusing on standardization, management, and accessibility of multimedia files. The platform aims to integrate various digitization efforts as the Distributed System of Scientific Collections (DiSSCo ERIC) in Europe. This initiative adheres to the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) to enhance research capabilities and interdisciplinary studies. Key components of the platform include: 1. Digitization Techniques: High-resolution imaging, 3D scanning, and photogrammetry are used to create digital twins of specimens. These techniques ensure comprehensive documentation and accessibility for scientific research. 2. Metadata: The Darwin Core and ABCD standards for biodiversity data are managed by the institution CMS and DICOM is used for high-resolution and 3D imaging data. Links between CMS and Multimedia server are achieved using UUID/permalinks. This ensures quality, consistency, and interoperability of data. 3. Multimedia File Management: The platform utilizes the Open Source ORTHANC server, which supports various multimedia formats and provides a RESTful API for integration with other systems. Custom plugins and viewers were adapted or developed to enhance the visualization and analysis of digital specimens. 4. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: By providing a unified structure, the platform facilitates large-scale data analysis including access by AI and fosters collaboration among researchers, educators, and the general public. The integration of digital technologies into natural history collections not only safeguards specimens but also democratizes access to data, enabling global research and education. The proposed platform represents a significant advancement in the field, promoting the preservation and utilization of natural history collections in the digital age using Open Sources technologies. The proposed platform can easily be reused in a CH context.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Inproceedings Reference Holocene stratigraphy of the shallow offshore zones of the Shetland Islands: Insights into paleotsunami and paleoenvironment reconstructions.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2024
Inproceedings Reference Erste Ergebnisse zu Untersuchungen an Sedimenten des Storegga-Tsunamis im Schelfbereich der Shetland-Inseln (GB).
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2024
Inproceedings Reference Using modern associations of microfauna to improve local relative sea-level reconstructions – a local transfer function for the Shetland Islands (UK)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Inproceedings Reference Holocene stratigraphy of the shallow offshore zones of the Shetland Islands: Insights into paleotsunami and paleoenvironment reconstructions
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Inproceedings Reference Biodiversity of the freshwater crabs of Benin (Potamonautidae): a genetic approach
Introduction: Published reports on freshwater crabs in Benin (West Africa) are very scarce and mention only two accepted taxa: Sudanonautes aubryi and S. monodi (the latter with no precise locality). The inventory of these species (described using specimens from Gabon and Cameroon, respectively) is still poorly known. Methods: Here, we explore the diversity of freshwater crabs in Benin using a selection of 18 specimens collected in 2022 and 2023 in a range of aquatic biotopes and throughout the country, except for the far north. The specimens were examined morphologically and sequenced for fragments of the COI, 16S and H3 genes. Results: Despite a general variability in color, shape, size and in the DNA sequences (proportion of substitution per site up to ca. 8% for COI, 3% for 16S and 0.3% for H3), our results suggest that all the Beninese crabs belong to a single species of the Sudanonautes genus. They also show that they are neither S. aubryi nor S. floweri, with which they show consistent morphological differences and larger proportions of substitution per site at COI (>10%), 16S (>6%) and H3 (>0.6%). Conclusions: The Beninese crabs may belong to an undescribed species. However, they are more likely conspecific with S. pelii, a species described from the coastal plain of Ghana, previously considered to be a junior synonym of S. aubryi, and whose lectotype’s photographs show no obvious morphological differences with the Sudanonautes crabs from Benin. It is therefore likely that S. pelii will have to be revalidated for certain populations of Sudanonautes crabs from Ghana, Benin and probably adjacent countries.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2024
Unpublished Reference BIRDIE: A South Africa biodiversity data pipeline for wetlands and waterbirds. Decision making in the biodiversity sector is only as good as the data that underpins the science.
With ever-increasing pressure globally on freshwater resources and, in particular, on wetlands, there is an urgent need to monitor the status of these ecosystems. In this context, waterbirds often serve as flagship and indicator species for the wetland ecosystems which support them. The South Africa Biodiversity Data Pipeline for Wetlands and Waterbirds (the BIRDIE project, https://birdie.sanbi.org.za/), emerges from a collaboration between government, academia, and conservation NGOs, with the overarching objective of serving as a link between South African nation-wide waterbird data collection programmes and conservation managers, researchers and other stakeholders. A key objective of the project is to support South Africa’s reporting and implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements such as the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (RAMSAR), the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds Agreement (AEWA), and the Convention on Biological Diversity, in particular, contributing to Red-Listing assessments of waterbird species. <br /><br /> The project uses data from the Coordinated Waterbird Counts (CWAC) and the Southern African Bird Atlas Project (ABAP) to understand the distribution and population dynamics of waterbird species. These citizen-science data are processed with rigorous statistical analysis to gain insights about these processes that raw data might not reveal. CWAC collects abundance data for waterbird species at 688 wetland sites. Since 1992, counts have been done twice a year, in summer and winter, providing good long term records. This information is made available as reports and an interactive map component. This map viewer is also showing the ABAP occupancy models on 144 waterbird species for 16,220 geographical ‘pentads’. Since 2007, more than 17 million records have been collected for ABAP with about 2 million more being added each year. The project also aims to support site management and decision making and, in the future, we hope to see the BIRDIE project expand to other regions and integrate with other biodiversity portals to promote a better understanding of the interactions between different taxonomic groups associated with wetlands.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2024