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Article Reference The Late Neolithic Michelsberg culture – just ramparts and ditches? A supraregional comparison of agricultural and environmental data
The archaeobotanical state of research from sites of the Michelsberg and the Bischheim culture (5th/4th millenium BC) in France, Belgium, southern Netherlands and Germany has been compiled and discussed in the context of archaeological, climatological and biological data. Compared with Bischheim and the Middle Neolithic the farmers of the Michelsberg culture had a reduced crop spectrum with emphasis on cereal growing. It is still under debate, from where the tetraploid wheat has been introduced. Possibly the growing of oil/fibre plants was abandoned by the Michelsberg farmers. Interestingly the same reduced crop spectrum is found somewhat later in the distribution area of the Funnelbeaker culture as well as in the Neolithic sites of Great Britain and Ireland. Climatic causes are not likely for this phenomenon. Instead, zoologial and botanical results point to an agricultural system with more emphasis on stock farming, which might have been based on a cultural decision.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Landwirtschaft und Landnutzung in der Region von Ovčarovo-Gorata: archäobotanische Forschungen zum Frühneolithikum in Nordostbulgarien
There is no archaeobotanical evidence from the site Ovčarovo-Gorata. During the excavations of the site in the 1970ties neither archaeobotanical sampling nor survey for pollen analysis in the surrounding were conducted. Those research gaps could partly be compensated by the archaeobotanical studies on the Neolithic settlements of Orlovec, Koprivec, Samovodene und Džuljunica carried out in the period of 1996-2006. The paleobotanical evidence from those sites allows to reconstruct the agriculture and land use in the region of Ovčarovo-Gorata during the Neolithic and to put them in a regional context. The current study is based on identification and analysis of charred (and few mineralised) plant remains, like seeds/fruits and charred wood. Those plant remains were extracted from the sediment samples (average volumes 10-20 litre) using manual floation. The here considered archaeobotanical data includes 31 samples, with total volume of 430 l and containing over 2400 identified plant remains. The archaeobotanical finds were analysed with the help of binocular and reflected light microscope, as well as corresponding identification literature and reference materials from the herbarium at the Department of Botany of the Sofia University. The early Neolithic samples from Džuljunica, Orlovec and from the oldest layers of Koprivec could be considered as synchronous and belong to the earliest phase of the Neolithic in the region (ca. 6100-5700 calBC). The samples from the early Neolithic layers of Samovodene (horizon 11-8) belong to the developed early Neolithic and are considered as contemporary with the period Karanovo II in Thrace and correspondently to the occupation of Ovčarovo-Gorata (ca. 5700-5400 calBC). Few of the samples (n=4) come also from the Late Neolithic (ca. 5400-4800 calBC) in the region, from Samovodene (horizon 5-3) and from Koprivec. The results of the archaeobotanical studies show the combination of the three main cereal crops (einkorn, emmer and barley) known also from the early Neolithic of Thessaly and Anatolia. In the samples from northeast Bulgaria the dominating cereal crop is the hulled barley, what is a clear difference from the southern parts of Bulgaria where in the early Neolithic the dominating cereal crops are hulled wheats – einkorn and emmer. The further principal crops, typical for the Neolithic period, are also found in the earliest phases of the Neolithic in the region. Those are a variety of pulses (lentil, pea and grass pea) as well as flax. In the late Neolithic samples there are also finds of bitter vetch. The wide spectrum of gathered plants (at least 11 taxa) reflects also the use of the natural vegetation resources from a variety of habitats in the surrounding. Further evidence which could be used for reconstructing the vegetation and land use in the Neolithic are the wood charcoal identifications from Džuljunica. Considering those sources of information it could be concluded that in the surrounding of the sites apart of oak forests also open vegetation, riparian forests and wetlands were developed. The relative open vegetation in the surrounding of the early Neolithic settlements could be one of the reasons why the corresponding locations were chosen by the Neolithic people to settle there. On the other hand this open vegetation could be caused by the Neolithic land use and animal husbandry, which have also led to certain reduction of the forests in the immediate surroundings of the settlements.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Climate variability and associated vegetation response throughout Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) between 60 and 8 ka
Abstract Records of past climate variability and associated vegetation response exist in various regions throughout Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). To date, there has been no coherent synthesis of the existing palaeo-records. During an \INTIMATE\ meeting (Cluj Napoca, Romania) focused on identifying \CEE\ paleo-records, it was decided to address this gap by presenting the palaeo-community with a compilation of high-quality climatic and vegetation records for the past 60–8 ka. The compilation should also serve as a reference point for the use in the modelling community working towards the \INTIMATE\ project goals, and in data-model inter-comparison studies. This paper is therefore a compilation of up to date, best available quantitative and semi-quantitative records of past climate and biotic response from \CEE\ covering this period. It first presents the proxy and archive used. Speleothems and loess mainly provide the evidences available for the 60–20 ka interval, whereas pollen records provide the main source of information for the Lateglacial and Holocene. It then examines the temporal and spatial patterns of climate variability inferred from different proxies, the temporal and spatial magnitude of the vegetation responses inferred from pollen records and highlights differences and similarities between proxies and sub-regions and the possible mechanisms behind this variability. Finally, it identifies weakness in the proxies and archives and their geographical distribution. This exercise also provides an opportunity to reflect on the status of research in the area and to identify future critical areas and subjects of research.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Using DNA barcodes for diversity assessment in Hybotidae (Diptera, Empidoidea)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference A link between host dispersal and parasite diversity in two sympatric cichlids of Lake Tanganyika
1. A major goal in ecology is to unravel how species assemblages emerge and how they are structured across the landscape. Host–parasite systems are particularly interesting in this context, as limited host dispersal may promote the differentiation of parasite communities. 2. We examined whether the patterns of species diversity in Cichlidogyrus, a genus of monogenean parasitic flatworms with a direct life cycle, are consistent with the hypothesis that parasite diversity is driven by host dispersal. This was carried out by comparing two sympatric cichlid hosts (Tropheus moorii and Simochromis diagramma) with contrasting dispersal abilities. Genetic connectivity among host populations along the Zambian shoreline of Lake Tanganyika was estimated using microsatellite genotyping. Cichlidogyrus parasites were isolated and identified morphologically to the species level. 3.Simochromis diagramma, a host with a high dispersal capacity, was infected by a low number of Cichlidogyrus species, and the parasite assemblages were similar among host populations. In contrast, T. moorii, a host with a low dispersal capacity, was infected by a large number of Cichlidogyrus species, and the parasite assemblages differed strongly among host populations. These outcomes were thus as expected from the hypothesis. 4. Because of the strong host specificity of these Cichlidogyrus species, a lack of connectivity among host populations might facilitate allopatric speciation of the parasite.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Archaeobotanical evidence on the Neolithisation of Northeast Bulgaria in the Balkan-Anatolian context: chronological framework, plant economy and land use
The study presents archaeobotanical analyses of four Early Neolithic sites (Koprivets, Orlovets, Dzhulyunitsa, Samovodene) from Northeast Bulgaria. Those archaeobotanical data are linked to comprehensive series of 14C dates for the early Neolithic in northeastern Bulgaria allowing their attribution to high resolution radiocarbon chronology. In the considered sites the dominating cereal crop during the Early Neolithic is hulled barley (Hordeum vulgare var. vulgare), followed by einkorn (Triticum monococcum) and few emmer (Triticum dicoccum) what is a clear difference from the southern parts of Bulgaria where during the early Neolithic the dominating cereal crops are einkorn and emmer. Further principal crops, present from the earliest phases of the Neolithic in the region are lentil – Lens culinaris, pea – Pisum sativum, grass pea – Lathyrus sativus/cicera and flax – Linum usitatissimum. Wide spectrum of finds of gathered plants (at least 11 taxa) reflects the use of the natural vegetation resources. Useful for reconstructing the vegetation and land use in the Neolithic are also wood charcoal identifications, indicating apart of oak forests also presence of open vegetation, riparian forests and wetlands. The relatively open vegetation in the surrounding of the early Neolithic settlements could be one of the reasons why the corresponding locations were chosen by the Neolithic people to settle there. On the other hand this open vegetation could be caused by the Neolithic land use and animal husbandry, which have also led to certain reduction of the forests in the immediate surroundings of the settlements.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Ancyrocephalidae (Monogenea) of Lake Tanganyika: does the Cichlidogyrus parasite fauna of Interochromis loocki (Teleostei, Cichlidae) reflect its host’s phylogenetic affinities?
The faunal diversity of Lake Tanganyika, with its fish species flocks and its importance as a cradle and reservoir of ancient fish lineages seeding other radiations, has generated a considerable scientific interest in the fields of evolution and biodiversity. The Tropheini, an endemic Tanganyikan cichlid tribe, fills a peculiar phylogenetic position, being closely related to the haplochromine radiations of Lakes Malawi and Victoria. Several problems remain regarding their genus-level classification. For example, the monotypic genus Interochromis is phylogenetically nested within Petrochromis; its only representative, I. loocki, has often been reclassified. As monogenean flatworms are useful markers for fish phylogeny and taxonomy, the monogenean fauna of Interochromis loocki was examined and compared to that of other tropheine cichlids. Three new monogenean species belonging to Cichlidogyrus are described from Interochromis loocki: Cichlidogyrus buescheri Pariselle and Vanhove, sp. nov., Cichlidogyrus schreyenbrichardorum Pariselle and Vanhove, sp. nov. and Cichlidogyrus vealli Pariselle and Vanhove, sp. nov. Their haptoral anchors remind more of congeners infecting species of Petrochromis than of all Cichlidogyrus spp. hitherto described from other tropheine cichlids. Attachment organ morphology has been proven to mirror the phylogenetic affinities of Cichlidogyrus lineages. Therefore the monogenean parasite fauna of I. loocki reflects this host’s position within Petrochromis. Moreover, I. loocki differs in habitat choice from Petrochromis spp. This study hence confirms that host range and host-specificity in Cichlidogyrus spp. parasitizing tropheines is determined by the host’s phylogenetic position, rather than by a shared ecological niche.
Located in Library / No RBINS Staff publications
Article Reference Macro- and megabenthic assemblages in the bathyal and abyssal Weddell Sea (Southern Ocean)
The assemblages inhabiting the continental shelf around Antarctica are known to be very patchy, in large part due to deep iceberg impacts. The present study shows that richness and abundance of much deeper benthos, at slope and abyssal depths, also vary greatly in the Southern and South Atlantic oceans. On the ANDEEP III expedition, we deployed 16 Agassiz trawls to sample the zoobenthos at depths from 1055 to 4930 m across the northern Weddell Sea and two South Atlantic basins. A total of 5933 specimens, belonging to 44 higher taxonomic groups, were collected. Overall the most frequent taxa were Ophiuroidea, Bivalvia, Polychaeta and Asteroidea, and the most abundant taxa were Malacostraca, Polychaeta and Bivalvia. Species richness per station varied from 6 to 148. The taxonomic composition of assemblages, based on relative taxon richness, varied considerably between sites but showed no relation to depth. The former three most abundant taxa accounted for 10-30\% each of all taxa present. Standardised abundances based on trawl catches varied between 1 and 252 individuals per 1000 m2. Abundance significantly decreased with increasing depth, and assemblages showed high patchiness in their distribution. Cluster analysis based on relative abundance showed changes of community structure that were not linked to depth, area, sediment grain size or temperature. Generally abundances of zoobenthos in the abyssal Weddell Sea are lower than shelf abundances by several orders of magnitude. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Nidification du Chevalier guignette (Actitis hypoleucos) en Brabant Wallon.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Densité et distribution du Cincle plongeur (Cinclus cinclus) dans le bassin de la Haute Meuse belge.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications