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Confirmation of Nicrophorus sepultor Charpentier, 1825 as a Belgian species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Silphinae)
https://biblio.naturalsciences.be/library-1/rbins-staff-publications-2022/articlereference.2024-02-28.4574043042
In this note the status of the burying beetle Nicrophorus sepultor Charpentier, 1825 as a Belgian species is confirmed based on eight specimens found in the collections of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS). The records are presented, mapped and the diagnostic features of this species are given.No publisherPeer ReviewOpen AccessPDF availableRBINS Collection(s)2024/02/28 11:05:00 GMT+1Article ReferenceRecent and old records of the rare myrmecophilous beetle Haeterius ferrugineus (Olivier 1789) in Belgium, Luxembourg and North-East of France
https://biblio.naturalsciences.be/library-1/rbins-staff-publications-2023/articlereference.2024-02-28.9262462613
Haeterius ferrugineus (Olivier 1789) is a rarely observed histerid beetle which lives permanently in ant nests. We provide the first records of this species in Flanders, the northern part of Belgium, and give an overview of the scattered records for this species in Belgium, Grand-Duché of Luxembourg and the border region in the North of France gathered over the past 150 years.No publisherPeer ReviewOpen AccessPDF availableRBINS Collection(s)2024/02/28 10:55:00 GMT+1Article ReferenceSoil‑litter arthropod communities under pasture land use in southern Rwanda
https://biblio.naturalsciences.be/library-1/rbins-staff-publications-2022/articlereference.2024-02-28.4151912206
Land use change caused by human activities is the main driver of biodiversity loss and changes in ecosystem functioning. However, less is known about how the conversion of a natural to pasture land favour the biological diversity of soil-litter arthropods to advance efective conservation plans and management systems. To fll the gap, this study focussed on soil-litter arthropod communities under a pasture land use in southern Rwanda. Data have been collected using pitfall traps and hand collection between April and June 2021. Sampled specimens of soil-litter arthropods have been identifed to order and family levels by using dichotomous keys. Further, the species name was given when the identifcation key was available, while the morphological description was provided in absence of the identifcation keys. Results indicated a total of 3013 individuals of soil-litter arthropods grouped into 3 classes, 13 orders, 46 families and 87 morpho-species. Coleoptera showed a high number of families, while higher abundance and the number of morpho-species were found for ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Higher abundance of sampled soil-litter arthropods is a sign that the studied area ofers suitable habitat for soil-litter arthropods. However, less abundance found for some groups of soil-litter arthropods might be infuenced by the used sampling techniques which were not appropriate for them. We recommend surveys using multiple sampling techniques to maximize chances of capturing a wide range of soil-litter arthropodsNo publisherRBINS Publication(s)RBINS Collection(s)PDF availableOpen AccessImpact FactorPeer Review2024/02/28 09:30:00 GMT+1Article ReferenceFirst inventory of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with detection of potentially invasive species in National Park of Ehotilés islands, Côte d’Ivoire
https://biblio.naturalsciences.be/library-1/rbins-staff-publications-2024/articlereference.2024-02-28.4076624392
Estuarine and wetland ecosystems are becoming increasingly altered by the concentration of human population near the coastline. A major threat to biodiversity related to this is the introduction of invasive alien species. This is particularly the case for isolated ecosystems like islands where the invasion of non-native species is often harmful. The National Park of Ehotilés Islands is an archipelago of 6 islands and a RAMSAR site subjected to disturbances, namely agriculture, illegal fisheries, and tourism. These factors often act as an accelerator for the introduction of invasive species. However, there is a lack of research on insects, specifically ants, on these islands. This study aimed to inventory the present ant fauna and estimate the vulnerability to tramp and potential invasive ant species. Ants were collected using Winkler, pitfall, and funnel traps on five islands. In total, 76 ant species were recorded. These species are distributed into 20 genera and five subfamilies: Dolichoderinae (5 species), Formicinae (11 species), Myrmicinae (49 species), Ponerinae (11 species) and Proceratiinae (1 species). We also detected two tramp and potentially invasive species: the ghost ant Tapinoma melanocephalum and the big-headed ant Pheidole megacephala. Ant communities are dominated by six species, namely Odontomachus troglodytes, Oecophylla longinoda, Nylanderia lepida, Pheidole sp.2, Monomorium invidium, and the invasive ghost ant Tapinoma melanocephalum. This work is the first to inventory ants on the Islands of Ehotilés National Park and may serve as a basis for conservation decisions as it demonstrates that this park is not spared from the introduction of invasive ant species.No publisherRBINS Collection(s)PDF availableOpen AccessImpact FactorPeer Review2024/02/28 09:15:00 GMT+1Article ReferenceWhere are we now with European forest multi-taxon biodiversity and where can we head to?
https://biblio.naturalsciences.be/library-1/rbins-staff-publications-2023/articlereference.2024-02-27.3409788982
The European biodiversity and forest strategies rely on forest sustainable management (SFM) to conserve forest biodiversity. However, current sustainability assessments hardly account for direct biodiversity indicators. We focused on forest multi-taxon biodiversity to: i) gather and map the existing information; ii) identify knowledge and research gaps; iii) discuss its research potential. We established a research network to fit data on species, standing trees, lying deadwood and sampling unit description from 34 local datasets across 3591 sampling units. A total of 8724 species were represented, with the share of common and rare species varying across taxonomic classes: some included many species with several rare ones (e.g., Insecta); others (e.g., Bryopsida) were repre sented by few common species. Tree-related structural attributes were sampled in a subset of sampling units (2889; 2356; 2309 and 1388 respectively for diameter, height, deadwood and microhabitats). Overall, multi taxon studies are biased towards mature forests and may underrepresent the species related to other developmental phases. European forest compositional categories were all represented, but beech forests were over represented as compared to thermophilous and boreal forests. Most sampling units (94%) were referred to a habitat type of conservation concern. Existing information may support European conservation and SFM strategies in: (i) methodological harmonization and coordinated monitoring; (ii) definition and testing of SFM indicators and thresholds; (iii) data-driven assessment of the effects of environmental and management drivers on multi-taxon forest biological and functional diversity, (iv) multi-scale forest monitoring integrating in-situ and remotely sensed information.No publisherRBINS Collection(s)PDF availableOpen AccessImpact FactorInternational Redaction Board2024/02/28 08:40:00 GMT+1Article ReferencePublishing data to support the fight against human vector-borne diseases
https://biblio.naturalsciences.be/library-1/rbins-staff-publications-2022/articlereference.2024-02-27.3554973565
Vector-borne diseases are responsible for more than 17% of human cases of infectious diseases. In most situations, effective control of debilitating and deadly vector-bone diseases (VBDs), such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, Zika and Chagas requires up to-date, robust and comprehensive information on the presence, diversity, ecology, bionomics and geographic spread of the organisms that carry and transmit the infectious agents. Huge gaps exist in the information related to these vectors, creating an essential need for campaigns to mobilise and share data. The publication of data papers is an effective tool for overcoming this challenge. These peer-reviewed articles provide scholarly credit for researchers whose vital work of assembling and publishing well-described, properly formatted datasets often fails to receive appropriate recognition. To address this, GigaScience’s sister journal GigaByte partnered with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) to publish a series of data papers, with support from the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), hosted by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Here we outline the initial results of this targeted approach to sharing data and describe its importance for controlling VBDs and improving public health.No publisherPDF availableInternational Redaction BoardImpact FactorOpen Access2024/02/27 15:27:58 GMT+1Article ReferenceNotes on the myrmecophilous spider Mastigusa arietina (Thorell, 1871)
https://biblio.naturalsciences.be/library-1/rbins-staff-publications-2022/articlereference.2024-02-23.4281219574
We provide records of the rarely detected ant-associated spider Mastigusa arietina (Thorell, 1871) in northwest Belgium and discuss how to locate and capture this spider. We show that this myrmecophilous spider is much more common than currently presumed but it is often missed in common spider surveys due to its obligate association with ant nests. We also summarise and illustrate the recently gained insights into its ecology, behaviour, and interactions with its host and other ant associates.No publisherRBINS Collection(s)PDF availableOpen AccessImpact FactorPeer Review2024/02/23 14:30:00 GMT+1Article ReferenceHypoponera eduardi (Forel, 1894) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on extensive green roofs in the Province of Antwerp: a new species for the Belgian ant fauna
https://biblio.naturalsciences.be/library-1/rbins-staff-publications-2022/articlereference.2024-02-23.7966728491
From 2019 until 2021, we investigated extensive green roofs in Flanders (Belgium) for their arthropod communities. On two different roofs we found, amongst the collected specimens, a species new for the Belgian ant fauna: Hypoponera eduardi (Forel, 1894). The presence of multiple worker ants belonging to this species indicates that it has formed a colony on at least one roof. Apparently, the warm and dry conditions that arise on extensive green roofs as a consequence of the shallow substrate layers lead to suitable habitat conditions for this species.No publisherPDF availableOpen AccessImpact Factor2024/02/23 14:17:59 GMT+1Article ReferenceLa pratique de l’entomologie du terrain au conservatoire ou l’essentiel est de bien transmettre
https://biblio.naturalsciences.be/library-1/rbins-staff-publications-2022/articlereference.2024-02-23.3913977107
The principles and conventions concerning research, killing, treatment, preparation and classification of insects in collections are discussed in this note. A special attention to the labeling and related items are recalled with the aim of harmonizing practices and correcting drifts observed over the time.No publisherRBINS Collection(s)PDF availableOpen AccessImpact FactorPeer Review2024/02/23 14:10:00 GMT+1Article ReferenceDe loopkever Amara strenua en zijn recente uitbreiding in Nederland en België (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
https://biblio.naturalsciences.be/library-1/rbins-staff-publications-2023-oa/articlereference.2024-02-23.2704221158
Na lange tijd niet te zijn waargenomen, lijkt de loopkever Amara strenua weer in toenemende mate voor te komen in Nederland en België. Voor ons was dat een unieke gelegenheid om meer te weten te komen over deze internationaal schaarse soort. We hebben gekeken naar de verspreiding van A. strenua, de karakteristieken van zijn habitat en naar zijn biologie. Door middel van kweekproeven kon voor het eerst de larve (stadium II) beschreven worden. Ten slotte beschrijven we een nieuw kenmerk om A. strenua van A. kulti te onderscheiden.No publisherRBINS Collection(s)PDF availableOpen AccessImpact FactorPeer Review2024/02/23 13:40:00 GMT+1Article ReferenceRemarks on Hymenoptera on urban green roofs in Belgium
https://biblio.naturalsciences.be/library-1/rbins-staff-publications-2023-oa/articlereference.2024-02-23.4549730410
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).No publisherRBINS Collection(s)PDF availableOpen AccessImpact FactorPeer Review2024/02/23 13:30:00 GMT+1Article ReferenceDiversity of small mammals and their viruses from pristine to degraded habitats in DR Congo
https://biblio.naturalsciences.be/library-1/rbins-staff-publications-2023/inproceedingsreference.2024-02-23.8180259960
No publisherOpen AccessPDF availableAbstract of an Oral Presentation or a Poster2024/02/23 13:16:09 GMT+1Inproceedings ReferenceFaunistic survey of myrmecophilous and other ant-associated beetles and spiders in the Belgian province of Limburg (Araneae, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
https://biblio.naturalsciences.be/library-1/rbins-staff-publications-2023/articlereference.2024-02-23.0224656795
Many researchers have been fascinated by the social organisation within an ant colony. They have noticed that several other invertebrates are found in or near the ants’ nests, notably a variety of Coleoptera and to a lesser extent, some spiders. Many of these observations have been written down, some just as a brief statement but sometimes a detailed report of these interactions as a result of accurate and prolonged monitoring was published. All this information allowed us to make a comparison with the ant species associated with beetles and spiders in the Belgian province of Limburg. We will discuss a large number of species within their respective families and mention in particular a certain connection between the guest and its host, a relationship which cannot necessarily be called myrmecophilousNo publisherRBINS Publication(s)RBINS Collection(s)PDF availableOpen AccessImpact FactorPeer Review2024/02/23 13:15:00 GMT+1Article ReferenceMonkeypox viruses circulate in distantly related small mammal species in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
https://biblio.naturalsciences.be/library-1/rbins-staff-publications-2023/inproceedingsreference.2024-02-23.7639308985
No publisherOpen AccessPDF availableAbstract of an Oral Presentation or a Poster2024/02/23 13:01:20 GMT+1Inproceedings ReferenceDrivers affecting habitat use in Afrotropical hipposiderid and pteropodid bats
https://biblio.naturalsciences.be/library-1/rbins-staff-publications-2023/inproceedingsreference.2024-02-23.1940181594
No publisherOpen AccessPDF availableAbstract of an Oral Presentation or a Poster2024/02/23 12:45:29 GMT+1Inproceedings Reference