Search publications of the members of the Royal Belgian institute of natural Sciences
-
The internal division of the Pliocene Lillo Formation: correlation between Cone Penetration Tests and lithostratigraphic type sections
-
Investigating the co-occurrence of Neanderthals and modern humans in Belgium through direct radiocarbon dating of bone implements
-
Variability in ostracod communities (Crustacea, Ostracoda) in connected and isolated tropical floodplain lakes
- Floodplains mostly consist of primary and secondary riverbeds, connecting channels and lakes that are either isolated from rivers and channels for most of the year, or lakes that are connected to rivers and channels for most (or all) of the year. We hypothesize that the differences in invertebrate communities, as calculated by beta-diversities, will be higher in isolated than in connected lakes. We use ostracod communities in the pleuston of the floating macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes in the Upper Paraná River floodplain to test this hypothesis. We have observed significant differences in species composition between the two types of lakes. However, although beta diversity values are indeed slightly higher in isolated than in connected lakes, these differences are not significant. This lack of clear effect of isolation on beta diversity could be owing to the fact that the period of isolation since the last homogenizing flood pulse had not been long enough, or because differences in degree of isolation become altogether insignificant in periods of low water flow.
-
On the affinity of Isocypridinae and Herpetocypridinae, with redescriptions of four species of Ilyodromus Sars, 1894 (Crustacea, Ostracoda)
- In previous studies, the high degree of similarity of some species of Ilyodromus Sars, 1894 (Herpetocypridinae) to species of another subfamily (Isocypridinae) was noted, calling for a revision of their systematic placement. Here, the systematics of Ilyodromus Sars, 1894 are revised within this context by redescribing four species and comparing these to other genera of Herpetocypridinae and Isocypridinae. Material for the four redescribed species (I. amplicolis De Deckker, 1981, I. dikrus De Deckker, 1981, I. candonites De Deckker, 1981, and I. williamsi (McKenzie, 1966)) was obtained from Museum Victoria and recollected topotypes. It was found that most genera within Isocypridinae share morphological characters that are diagnostic of the subfamily Herpetocypridinae. On these grounds, the transfer of Isocypridinae to the rank of Tribe Isocypridini Rome, 1965 of subfamily Herpetocypridinae Kaufmann, 1900 is proposed here to account for the present understanding of morphological similarity.
-
Patterns of genetic divergence in the Ilyodromus amplicolis lineage (Crustacea, Ostracoda), with descriptions of three new species
- In this study, 13 previously recorded populations of Ilyodromus amplicolis De Deckker, 1981 from temporary aquatic habitats in Western Australia were scanned for undescribed species diversity using morphological and molecular systematics techniques. The study found congruent morphological and molecular evidence for three species that are new to science, all of which are formally described here (I. armacutis n. sp., I. sensaddito n. sp. and I. hiatus n. sp.). The findings shed light on the potential for further undescribed diversity in the genus Ilyodromus Sars, 1894.
-
New data on the sedimentary processes and timing of the initial inundation of Lower Khuzestan (SW Iran) by the Persian Gulf
-
NiphNet: a self-governing environmental monitoring network
- A high-precision and low-cost temperature and humidity logging device, called Niphargus and originally intended for environmental monitoring in caves, was developed at the Geological Survey of Belgium (Burlet et al., 2015). The Niphargus is designed as a standalone logger, with data to be retrieved manually whenever needed. This allows for a very small and simple electronic design, low power consumption and flexible placement. There are, however, a number of disadvantages for specific applications. For example, there is no feedback possible on malfunction or battery lifetime. To avoid loss of data during long-term measurement campaigns, regular inspection and data retrieval are necessary. Apart from the inconvenience, this manipulation also causes disturbance in the measurements. A new version of the Niphargus was therefore developed, including a wireless Digi XBee DigiMesh module. These modules communicate on a 868 MHz radio frequency, in a self-governing mesh network (Fig. 1). In such a network, every device is able to communicate to any other device within range. For data transmission, the most optimal pathway is chosen between transmitter and receiver. As such, in case of a single device malfunction, the connection between the other nodes can still be guaranteed. In case of the NiphNet, the receiving end includes a single-board computer with cellular network connectivity, from which data is uploaded to a cloud repository. From there, live monitoring data can be displayed online, downloaded and processed. A first successful test was conducted with a NiphNet of 5 devices in waterproof containers (Fig. 2) and online display at the GeoEnergy Test Bed in Nottingham, UK, in March 2018. Current and future efforts focus on the enclosure design and the automation of data readout over the network. There is a large array of possible applications. For environmental monitoring in caves, the individual nodes can ensure data transmission from a network of environmental sensors inside the cave to a station outside, allowing for continuous access to measurements and minimising the need for regular field inspection. This is currently being installed in the caves of Han. The geological storage of CO2 requires long-term monitoring to establish a baseline and detect leakage from the reservoir, both below and above ground. Such monitoring activities need to be maintained for several decades, and therefore need to be low effort and low cost. Near the surface, temperature is expected to be a good proxy for CO2 leakage when a network is set-up that can detect temperature anomalies in the range of 0.01°C. This is possible with a network of shallow buried Niphargus nodes. Then, wireless access to thesedevices is not only a matter of long-term and maintenance-free coverage of a large area. Detection of small temperature differences depends on not disturbing the shallow subsurface, and therefore on being able to download the data remotely.
-
Ensemble analysis and forecast of ecosystem indicators in the North Atlantic using ocean colour observations and prior statistics from a stochastic NEMO–PISCES simulator
-
Evaluation of operational ocean forecasting systems from the perspective of the users and the experts
-
Odanext - Oceanographic data acquisition: the next age
- The new Research Vessel Belgica represents a major advancement in Belgian maritime research, equipped with cutting-edge technologies and advanced scientific equipment. As a successor to the previous vessel, it introduces new challenges, particularly in managing vast amounts of data generated by its variety of sensors. The redesign of data systems is essential to fully utilize the vessel's capabilities, ensuring trustworthy data collection and analysis. This transformation is vital to meet modern IT standards and comply with European directives like INSPIRE and Open Data, which demand accessible, standardized, and open data. The ODANext project addressed these challenges by enhancing data acquisition workflows, preserving historical data, and establishing a durable infrastructure for data storage and dissemination. These improvements aim to elevate the RV Belgica’s global research impact, facilitate efficient data sharing, and support scientific research, policy-making, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
-
Real-Time Data Transfer and Management for the RV Belgica Using FROST OGC SensorThings API
- A fully automated near-real time vessel-to-client data transfer has been implemented for the en-route data of the new RV Belgica. It includes the transfer itself, metadata enrichment, data standardization, quality checks and data dissemination. The infrastructure uses existing open-source solutions, altought some small components have been developed internally (data normalization and quality control). The FROST OGC SensorThings API proves to be a simple and reliable standard for the management and dissemination of sensor data, including various metadata (quality flags, geo-referencing, sensor information, etc.).
-
) Paleoparasitological analysis of a 15th–16th c. CE latrine from the merchant quarter of Bruges, Belgium: Evidence for local and exotic parasite infections
-
Woodland exploitation by early modern military camps and their impact on the forest environment. Anthracological analysis from Ninove-Doorn Noord (1692–1693, 1745, Belgium)
-
Optical dating of charcoal kiln remains from WWII: A test of accuracy.
-
Fuelling the Roman salt industry. Developing a new multiproxy approach to identify peat fuel from archaeological combustion residue
-
Evidence of parasites in Burials and cesspits used by the clergy and general population of 13th – 18th century Ghent, Belgium
-
La rondelle au mammouth de Chaleux
-
Entre rectangles et trapèzes : les maisons rubanées de Belgique entre Rhin et Bassin parisien
-
Étude tracéologique d'un ensemble d'outils lithiques provenant du site de "En Bia Flo" à Remicourt. L'industrie laminaire au Paléolithique moyen.
-
Préhistoire gaumaise
