Search publications of the members of the Royal Belgian institute of natural Sciences
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Discovery of Streptopinna saccata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mollusca: Bivalvia) in the Atlantic Ocean
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Slugs or Snails - Which is more to blame for feline lungworm infections?
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Les restes d'oiseaux
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Ropalodontus novorossicus Reitter, 1901 (Coleoptera: Ciidae) a new minute tree-fungus beetle species for Belgium
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An overview of the moth (Insecta: Lepidoptera) type material in the Fastré collection at the RBINS
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Surprising observations of Polyergus rufescens (Latreille, 1798) (Formicidae: Hymenoptera) in a repeated faunistic study of heathlands in the Belgian Province of Limburg
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Ichneumonidae in historical collections from Belgium: I. Adolphe Crèvecoeur (collected during 1914–1949) [RBINS]
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A replacement name for the genus-group name Nanna Birket-Smith, 1965 (Erebidae: Arctiinae: Syntomini)
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Overstorey composition shapes across-trophic level community relationships in deciduous forest regardless of fragmentation context
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Relative Efficiency of Pitfall vs. Bait Trapping for Capturing Taxonomic and Functional Diversities of Ant Assemblages in Temperate Heathlands
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Mixing of tree species is especially beneficial for biodiversity in fragmented landscapes, without compromising forest functioning
- 1. Contemporary forest management strives to satisfy contrasting demands on forest ecosystems by promoting multiple ecosystem services. These services are affected in varied manners by alternative management actions operating at local or landscape scales, potentially leading to trade-offs and synergies that may impede or encourage forest managers to change practices. 2. We here studied ecosystem functions and biodiversity across trophic levels in 53 mature forest plots varying in stand-level (tree species composition) and landscape-level (degree of fragmentation) characteristics. The consequences of tree species composition and forest fragmentation for the provision of forest ecosystem services were explored using desirability scores, contrasting two different perspectives on forest management: a conservationist perspective placing more value on biodiversity conservation and a productivist perspective attaching more value to timber production and natural forest regeneration. These scores were derived at two spatial scales distinguishing between ecosystem functions and forest biodiversity. 3. We show that more than two thirds of the 20 trade-offs and synergies between functions and diversity variables were driven by variation in tree species composition and fragmentation. While multifunctionality depended on the forest management perspective at the stand level, this dependence was no longer apparent at the landscape scale. Interestingly, more strongly fragmented landscapes had higher landscape-level multifunctionality, but this came at the expense of biodiversity across trophic levels. At the same time, mixed forest stands had higher levels of biodiversity than monocultures without affecting multifunctionality. 4. Synthesis and applications. In monocultures, it depends on the management perspective as to which tree species best maximizes multifunctionality. However, diversifying stands resolves this potential tension between different perspectives;
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Un refuge forestier menacé : la forêt d’altitude à Parinari du Mont Tonkoui en Côte d’Ivoire. Évaluation de la biodiversité entomologique, botanique et ornithologique. Valeurs de conservation du site
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Influence of ant–grass association on soil microbial activity through organic matter decomposition dynamics in Lamto savannah (Côte d’Ivoire)
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Paraplatypeza bicincta (Szilady, 1941) (Diptera: Platypezidae) new to Belgium
- The flat-footed fly Paraplatypeza bicincta (Szilady, 1941) is reported for the first time from Belgium. Details on the localities and ecology are given. Paraplatypeza bicincta (Szilady, 1941), une « mouche aux pieds plats », est mentionnée pour la première fois en Belgique. Les caractéristiques des localités et écologiques sont données. De breedvoetvlieg Paraplatypeza bicincta (Szilady, 1941) wordt voor het eerst vermeld voor België. Details over de lokaliteiten en ecologie worden besproken.
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Detecting bee’s floral preference in cashew orchards: A path towards preservation and management of bee communities and improvement of cashew productivity in Côte d’Ivoire
- In spite of the low agronomic performances of Ivorian cashew orchards, Côte d'Ivoire recently became the first worldwide producer and exporter of raw cashew nuts. To maintain this ringleader position, several factors should be understood including the ecological factors supporting this success. Pollination service due to bees was recognized to impact cashew production. Therefore, determining cashew trees that are more attractive to bees can contribute to promote pollination activities. To detect these cashew trees possessing the flowers preferred by bees, two types of investigations were undertaken: (1) a socioeconomic survey in 3167 cashew hectares belonging to 381 producers and (2) an experimental detection of the bees’ floral preference. As results, 58 of the 381 interviewed producers had identified the bees’ floral preference resulting in a detection of 681 cashew trees. The flowers of the preferred cashew trees were visited 5 times more and they attracted 3 times more bee foragers as compared to nonpreferred cashew trees. These findings may be included in research programs focus on: (i) improvement of agronomic performances and (ii) effective management of bees’ community
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Soil-litter ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) community response to reforested lands of Gishwati tropical montane forest, northern-western part of Rwanda
- Recently, human activities have impacted biodiversity-rich forest in western Rwanda, creating a need to enhance restoration activities of degraded lands in the region. To evaluate the effects of reforestation activities on the community composition of soil-litter ants, research was conducted in Gishwati tropical montane forest, located in northern-western part of Rwanda. The ant fauna was studied in reforested lands dominated by regenerated native species and exotic tree species. Further, a primary forest made of native trees served as a reference. In each forest type, nine sampling points were used to sample ants. Ant specimens were collected using pitfalls, hand sampling and Winkler extractor. They were identified to subfamilies, genus and species levels using dichotomous keys, and also statistically analysed for species richness, diversity, evenness and community composition. We collected a total of 2,481 individuals from 5 subfamilies, 18 genera and 35 species. Higher abundance, diversity and species richness were found in soil-litter under natural primary and secondary forests dominated by regenerated native plant species compared to exotic tree forest. The ant community composition analysis indicated higher similarities in ant species sampled under primary native forest and secondary forest dominated by regenerated native species. Reforestation by regenerating native species may be given priority in restoration of degraded lands due to their importance in species richness and species diversity
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Effect of insecticide treatment on arboreal ant community structure in small holder Cocoa farm in the centre region of Cameroon
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An annotated taxonomic checklist of the Neotropical Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) with links to the inforamtion on host plants and parasitoids
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Microbilogical, clinical and molecular findings of non-typhoidal Salmonella bloodstream infections associated with malaria, Oriental Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Crocidurobia faini n.sp. (Acariformes: Myobiidae), a new mite species prasitising shrews of the genus Crocidura Wagler (Soricomorpha: Soricidae) in DR Congo
