Search publications of the members of the Royal Belgian institute of natural Sciences
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Een blik op zee. Biodiversiteit en bescherming van het mariene leven in het Belgisch deel van de Noordzee
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Predynastic and Early Dynastic plant economy in the Nile Delta: archaeobotanical evidence from Tell el-Iswid
- The large-scale excavation at the prehistoric site of Tell el-Iswid made it possible to undertake a systematic archaeobotanical study of different structures covering the Predynastic and Early Dynastic period (Lower Egyptian Cultures (Buto II) to Naqada III Culture. Here we present the results of the analysis of carpological remains preserved mostly in charred state and coming from 62 samples processed by manual flotation, with total volume of 615 litres and containing a total of 9672 identifiable and quantifiable items. Further ca. 650 wood fragments (or woody vegetative remains) were subject to anthracological analysis. Besides the aim of overall characterising and exploring the plant economy of the site, the macrobotanical assemblages were also considered in relation to the structures from which they were uncovered. The study revealed that the agricultural economy of both studied periods relied on emmer, barley, lentils, and pea, but from the Early Dynastic times onwards also flax and condiments (like Anethum graveolens and cf. Origanum sp.) played a certain role. Together with the cultivated fields also the surrounding wetlands were an important part of the plant resources utilized at site. The stems of Phragmites are also the most common among the anthracological remains, together with a small proportion of Tamarix and Acacia charcoal fragments. The overall composition of the plant assemblages (charred and mineralised chaff, small weed or wild growing seeds capable to pass the herbivore digestion, dung fragments, awns) suggest that the major source of the retrieved plant remains was dung fuel.
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Chièvres/Chièvres : témoins archéobotaniques d'un tannage végétal complexe à l'époque contemporaine
- Entre 2013 et 2015, une opération d'archéologie préventive d'envergure a été menée dans la commune de Chièvres par le Service Archéologique de Wallonie. Lors des travaux d’installation du collecteur d’eaux usées pour la station d’épuration, deux cuves d’une tannerie datant du 19ème siècle ont été découvertes. L'une des deux cuves a pu faire l’objet d’une fouille exhaustive et son remplissage a livré des matériaux organiques propices aux études archéobotaniques. Celles-ci ont été entreprises afin d'éclairer le fonctionnement de la tannerie et de fournir des informations sur le type de tannage utilisé. Le tannage est l'opération qui consiste à transformer la peau en cuir grâce aux tanins ; ces substances de différentes natures (végétales, minérales ou combinées) permettent la transformation d'une peau putrescible en un matériau durable et imputrescible. Sans surprise, les assemblages polliniques enregistrent de nombreux taxons riches en tanin tels que les arbres forestiers chêne, hêtre et châtaignier, et les fruitiers de type Prunus sp.. Parallèlement, des écorces de feuillus indéterminés ont été trouvées au sein des macrorestes végétaux. Ont aussi été identifiés dans les spectres polliniques certaines espèces herbacées (Artemisia, Plantago, Filipendula) et d'autres microfossiles intéressants, qui ont également pu jouer un rôle dans le processus de tannage étant donné leurs propriétés astringentes, antiseptiques, ou encore colorantes. Mais les découvertes les plus frappantes concernent le matériel carpologique avec l’identification de nombreux noyaux de dattes (Phoenix dactylifera) et de noyaux très fragmentés de Myrobolan ou cadou (Terminalia chebula), deux espèces exotiques importées. Autant la présence de la datte suscite des interrogations, autant la présence du Myrobolan ou cadou a toute sa place dans ce contexte. En effet, dès le début du 20ème siècle, le fruit séché du Myrobolan est l'une des matières tannantes les plus connues, exportée de manière considérable, principalement de Bombay (Brandis 1906). Au cours de cette présentation, nous essayerons également de reconstituer, ou tout du moins d'appréhender, le mode de tannage pratiqué à Chièvres, grâce aux analyses des micro- et macro-restes botaniques retrouvés. De plus, sur la base de recherches historiques et archivistiques, nous tenterons de comprendre l'importation, la distribution et l'utilisation du cadou en Belgique à l'époque contemporaine.
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Tributyltin: A Bottom–Up Regulator of the Crangon crangon Population?
- The restrictions and the concerted action of the global ban on the use and presence of tributyltin (TBT) in marine applications to protect ecosystems in the marine environment in 2008 was mainly based on the economic impact on shellfish industries and the dramatic extinction of local mollusk populations in the past. In contrast to the vast datasets on effects on mollusks, the knowledge on impacts on species from other taxa remained in the uncertain until almost two decades ago. The assumption on a long-term TBT-mediated pernicious metabolic bottom–up regulation of the crustacean Crangon crangon population was provoked by the outcome of an EU-project ‘Sources, Consumer Exposure and Risks of Organotin Contamination in Seafood.’ This study reported high TBT body burdens in C. crangon in 2003, at the start of the transition period to the global ban. Experimental research on the TBT impact in C. crangon focused on agonistic interference with natural ecdysteroid hormones at the metabolic pathways regulating growth and reproduction and the biogeochemical distribution of the chemical. In this paper, metabolic, topical and population-relevant biological endpoints in C. crangon and other crustaceans are evaluated in relation to the temporal and spatial trends on TBT’s occurrence and distribution in the field during and after the introduction of the tributyltin restrictions and endocrine-related incidents. Arguments are forwarded to relate the German Bight incident on growth and reproduction failure in the C. crangon population, despite the lack of direct evidence, to the pernicious impact of tributyltin in 1990/91 and previous years. The extreme occurrence of TBT in C. crangon from other parts of the southern North Sea and evidence on the high body burdens as dose metrics of exposure also feeds the suspicion on detrimental impacts in those areas. This paper further demonstrates the complexity of distinguishing and assessing the individual roles of unrelated stressors on a population in an integrated evaluation at the ecosystem level.
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Contexte géologique du grès à ciment calcaire de Boulogne (« Pierre de Baincthun »), pierre de construction médiévale importante des Comtés d’Artois et de Flandre
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Maastrichtian building stones from the Mergelland type region; more than Maastricht Stone.
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The Boulogne calcareous sandstone and coquina, important historical building stones in the Counties of Artois and Flanders.
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Natuursteenidentificatie Leuvensepoort, Warandepark, Tervuren. Studie uitgevoerd in opdracht van Lapis Arte bv (Oosterzele).
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Restauratie Justitiepaleis Brussel. Onderzoek van te vervangen Comblanchien (deel 2). Natuursteenvervanging voorgevel. Studie i.o.v. Perspectiv Architecten.
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Boterstraat 38 – 1000 Brussel, ‘natuursteen’ in de voorgevel. Studie in opdracht van Studiebureau Monumentenzorg.
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. Heilige Geesthof en kapel van Overloo - natuursteenidentificatie. Studie t.a.v. Thijs Goemans.
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Sint-Amanduskerk van Erps, opgraving voor vloerverwarmingsinstallatie: natuursteendeterminatie. Studie t.a.v. Walter Sevenants, Voorzitter Erfgoedkring Kortenberg
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Restauratie Justitiepaleis Brussel. Natuursteen in de uitgebreide sokkel van de centrale koepel. Studie i.o.v. Perspectiv Architecten.
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Microscopie van twee gesteentemonsters. Leuvensepoort, Warandepark, Tervuren. Studie i.o.v. Lapis Arte bv
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Koninklijke Opera en Posterijen, Gent. Natuursteenidentificatie en -herkomst. Studie i.o.v. Steenmeijer Architecten.
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Restauratie Justitiepaleis Brussel. Natuursteenproblematiek in de uitgebreide sokkel van de centrale koepel. Studie i.o.v. Perspectiv Architecten.
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Sint-Martinuskerk Lubbeek: natuursteenidentificatie en -schadepathologie, inzonderheid de witstenen. Studie i.o.v. Origin Architecture & Engineering.
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Arion vulgaris Moquin-Tandon, 1855 à Vogar en Islande
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Mons/Spiennes : fouilles préventives et suivi de la construction du Centre d'interprétation des minières néolithiques de silex de Spiennes au lieu-dit "Petit-Spiennes".
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On a new species of the genus Cyprinotus (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from a temporary wetland in New Caledonia (Pacific Ocean), with a reappraisal of the genus
- The New Caledonia archipelago is known for its high level of endemism in both faunal and floral groups. Thus far, only 12 species of non-marine ostracods have been reported. After three expeditions to the main island of the archipelago (Grande Terre), about four times as many species were found, about half of which are probably new. Here, we describe a new species, Cyprinotus drubea sp. nov., which is characterised mainly by the hyper-developed dorsal hump on the right valve, much larger than in any other known Recent species in this genus. After a literature study of the other presumed species in Cyprinotus Brady, 1886, we retain seven Recent species in the genus, including the present new species. Cyprinotus crenatus (Turner, 1893), C. dentatus (Sharpe, 1910), C. flavescens Brady, 1898, C. inconstans Furtos, 1936, C. newmexicoensis Ferguson, 1967, C. ohanopecoshensis Ferguson, 1966, C. pellucidus (Sharpe, 1897), C. scytodus (Dobbin, 1941) and C. sulphurous Blake, 1931 are here all referred to the genus Heterocypris s. lat. Claus, 1892. Cyprinotus unispinifera Furtos, 1936 is assigned to the genus Cypricercus Sars, 1895. Cyprinotus tenuis Henry, 1923, C. fuscus Henry, 1919 and C. carinatus (King, 1855) are here classified as doubtful species. A checklist of the 14 non-marine ostracods, now including Cyprinotus drubea sp. nov. and Cypris granulata (Daday, 1910), thus far reported from New Caledonia, is provided. Herpetocypris caledonica Méhes, 1939 and H. caledonica var. minor Méhes, 1939 are synonymised with Candonocypris novaezelandiae (Baird, 1843).
