Search publications of the members of the Royal Belgian institute of natural Sciences
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mtDNA suggests strong genetic differentiation at unexpectedly fine-scales in a high-dispersal marine periwinkle
- Marine invertebrates with long-lived planktonic larvae are assumed to have high dispersal potential and broad-scale gene flow. They are thought to disperse over long distances and to be genetically homogeneous over large areas. The periwinkle Melarhaphe neritoides which ranges along much of the European coastline, is such a species. Its long-lived planktonic larval phase lasts 4-8 weeks and previous allozyme studies have shown very little to no population genetic differentiation along the European coast, even over distances of thousands of kilometers. However, a growing number of studies based on DNA markers suggest that there is a poor correlation between pelagic larval duration (PLD) and the level of population genetic differentiation (r² = 0.29). Nevertheless, recent work reaffirms that PLD might still be a good predictor of population genetic differentiation as a function of geographic scale, if based on unbiased FST estimates and appropriate sampling sizes. We explored these conflicting views by assessing mtDNA (COI, 16S, Cytb) differentiation among five intensively-sampled populations of M. neritoides in the Azores. In contrast with previous allozyme data, our mtDNA data reveal remarkably high genetic diversity and differentiation among M. neritoides populations, even those as close as 50 km. Even at this scale, populations do not seem to share haplotypes, despite the assumed high potential of broad-scale gene flow in M. neritoides. Hence, the relationship between PLD and dispersal potential or the level of population genetic differentiation, is indeed not straightforward.
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Nationwide inventory of mosquito biodiversity (Diptera: Culicidae) in Belgium, Europe
- To advance our restricted knowledge on mosquito biodiversity and distribution in Belgium, a national inventory started in 2007 (MODIRISK) based on a random selection of 936 collection points in three main environmental types: urban, rural and natural areas. Additionally, 64 sites were selected because of the risk of importing a vector or pathogen in these sites. Each site was sampled once between May and October 2007 and once in 2008 using Mosquito Magnet Liberty Plus traps. Diversity in pre-defined habitat types was calculated using three indices. The association between species and environmental types was assessed using a correspondence analysis. Twenty-three mosquito species belonging to traditionally recognized genera were found, including 21 indigenous and two exotic species. Highest species diversity (Simpson 0.765) and species richness (20 species) was observed in natural areas, although urban sites scored also well (Simpson 0.476, 16 species). Four clusters could be distinguished based on the correspondence analysis. The first one is related to human modified landscapes (such as urban, rural and industrial sites). A second is composed of species not associated with a specific habitat type, including the now widely distributed Anopheles plumbeus. A third group includes species commonly found in restored natural or bird migration areas, and a fourth cluster is composed of forest species. Outcomes of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of the designed sampling scheme and support the choice of the trap type. Obtained results of this first country-wide inventory of the Culicidae in Belgium may serve as a basis for risk assessment of emerging mosquito-borne diseases.
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Changes in Species Richness and Spatial Distribution of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) Inferred From Museum Specimen Records and a Recent Inventory: A Case Study From Belgium Suggests Recent Expanded Distribution of Arbovirus and Malaria Vectors
- Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) distribution data from a recent inventory of native and invading mosquito species in Belgium were compared with historical data from the period 1900-1960 that were retrieved from a revision of the Belgian Culicidae collection at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. Both data sets were used to investigate trends in mosquito species richness in several regions in Belgium. The relative change in distribution area of mosquito species was particularly important for species that use waste waters and used tires as larval habitats and species that recently shifted their larval habitat to artificial larval habitats. More importantly, several of these species are known as vectors of arboviruses and Plasmodium sp. and the apparent habitat shift of some of them brought these species in proximity to humans. Similar studies comparing current mosquito richness with former distribution data retrieved from voucher specimens from collections is therefore encouraged because they can generate important information concerning health risk assessment at both regional and national scale.
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FORMIDABEL: The Belgian Ants Database
- FORMIDABEL is a database of Belgian Ants containing more than 27.000 occurrence records. These records originate from collections, field sampling and literature. The database gives information on 76 native and 9 introduced ant species found in Belgium. The collection records originated mainly from the ants collection in Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), the `Gaspar' Ants collection in Gembloux and the zoological collection of the University of Liege (ULG). The oldest occurrences date back from May 1866, the most recent refer to August 2012. FORMIDABEL is a work in progress and the database is updated twice a year. The latest version of the dataset is publicly and freely accessible through this url: http://ipt.biodiversity.be/resource.do?r=formidabel. The dataset is also retrievable via the GBIF data portal through this link: http://data.gbif.org/datasets/resource/14697 [GRAPHICS] A dedicated geo-portal, developed by the Belgian Biodiversity Platform is accessible at: http://www.formicidae-atlas.be Purpose: FORMIDABEL is a joint cooperation of the Flemish ants working group ``Polyergus'' (http://formicidae.be) and the Wallonian ants working group ``FourmisWalBru'' (http://fourmiswalbru.be). The original database was created in 2002 in the context of the preliminary red data book of Flemish Ants (Dekoninck et al. 2003). Later, in 2005, data from the Southern part of Belgium; Wallonia and Brussels were added. In 2012 this dataset was again updated for the creation of the first Belgian Ants Atlas (Figure 1) (Dekoninck et al. 2012). The main purpose of this atlas was to generate maps for all outdoor-living ant species in Belgium using an overlay of the standard Belgian ecoregions. By using this overlay for most species, we can discern a clear and often restricted distribution pattern in Belgium, mainly based on vegetation and soil types.
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De 'Keizerlijke Thermen'. Hoe sportbeoefening in één klap het complex met een kwart uitbreidde
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Het Macellum. Vlees op bestelling
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Ostracodes et lithologie du stratotype de la Formation du Mont d'Haurs (Givétien, Synclinorium de Dinant)
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Ontdekking van een fossiele walvis in Doel
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Découverte d'une baleine fossile à Doel
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Traits allowing some ant species to nest syntopically with the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima in its native range.
- Supercolonies of the red fire ant Solenopsis saevissima (Smith) develop in disturbed environments and likely alter the ant community in the native range of the species. For example, in French Guiana only 8 ant species were repeatedly noted as nesting in close vicinity to its mounds. Here, we verified if a shared set of biological, ecological, and behavioral traits might explain how these 8 species are able to nest in the presence of S. saevissima. We did not find this to be the case. We did find, however, that all of them are able to live in disturbed habitats. It is likely that over the course of evolution each of these species acquired the capacity to live syntopically with S. saevissima through its own set of traits, where colony size (4 species develop large colonies), cuticular compounds which do not trigger aggressiveness (6 species) and submissive behaviors (4 species) complement each other.
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Leaf-litter ant communities in a pristine Guianese rainforest: stable functional structure versus high species turnover.
- We compared the ant assemblages from four very heterogeneous habitats over a short-distance elevational gradient of vegetation (due to the presence of an inselberg) at the Nouragues Research Station, French Guiana. We focused on litter- dwelling ants, combining the use of pitfall traps and the Winkler method according to the Ants of the Leaf Litter Proto- col. This permitted us to note (1) a high leaf-litter ant diversity overall and a decreasing diversity gradient from the lowland rainforest to the top of the inselberg, and (2) differences in species density, composition and functional struc- ture. While the ant assemblages on the plateau and inselberg can be considered functionally similar and typical of an Amazonian rainforest, that of the transition forest, relatively homogenous, rather corresponded to an ant fauna typical of open areas. By contrast, the liana forest assemblage was unexpectedly richer and denser than the others, sheltering a litter-dwelling ant fauna dominated by numerous and abundant cryptic species. These taxonomical and functional dissi- milarities may reflect the influence of the environmental heterogeneity, which, through variable abiotic conditions, can contribute to maintaining a notably rich ant biodiversity in these Neotropical habitats.
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Stenen immigranten in de Zwinstreek: natuursteen in de Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-hemelvaartkerk in Damme (W.-Vl.).
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Nutrient Recycling Starts in the Canopy: The Secretive Action of Termites
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Geologische fietsroute Voerstreek-Mergelland.
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Book review. ANT ECOLOGY. 2010. Edited by L. Lach, C. L. Parr & K. L. Abbott. Oxford University Press, xviii + 402 pp. US $ 53 paperback
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Book Review : Wegnez P., Ignace D., Fichefet V., Hardy M., Plume T. & Timmermann M., 2012. - Fourmis de Wallonie (2003-2011). Publication du Département de l'Etude du Milieu Naturel et Agricole (SPW-DGARNE), Série « Faune - Flore - Habitat » n°8, Gembloux
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Factors determining the spatio-temporal distribution of ants in an Andean tropical forest.
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Book review - A History of Aerial Photography and Archaeology: Mata Hari's Glass Eye and Other Stories, by M. Barber, English Heritage, Swindon, UK, 2011
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DNA barcoding and the differentiation between North American and West European Phormia regina (Diptera, Calliphoridae, Chrysomyinae)
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Taxonomic and population genetic re-interpretation of two color morphs of the decollate snail, <i>Rumina decollata</i> (Mollusca, Pulmonata) in southern France
