Search publications of the members of the Royal Belgian institute of natural Sciences
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Distribution, behavioral dominance and potential impacts on endemic fauna of the tropical fire ant Solenopsis geminata (Hymenoptera: Myrmicinae) in the Galapagos archipelago
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Human impact on alluvial fan development: can human niche construction provide a conceptual framework for long-term landscape evolution?
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Verstekelingen met een geurtje in de bosmierennesten van De Haan
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Découverte de Myrmica lonae Finzi, 1926 en Wallonie (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)
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Resultaten van een Malaisevalcampagne in de vallei van de Zeverenbeek (Deinze, Oost-Vlaanderen, België)
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Syrphidae and Stratiomyidae collected during a three year survey with a Malaisetrap in Viesville (prov. Hainaut)
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Revision of the Belgian Camillidae, a neglected family (Diptera: Camillidae)
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De Roerdalslenk
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Apport à la connaissance des heligmonevra de l'Afrique Occidentale et description d'une nouvelle espèce (Diptera, Asilidae)
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Towards the DNA barcoding of the Congolese riverine fish fauna
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Identifying Congolese birds from feathers using DNA barcodes
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Get off on the right foot. The importance of initial steps in NGS data analysis
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Quantity but also quality: choosing a next-generation sequencing approach to address specific questions in systematics
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Niphargus: a silicon band-gap sensor temperature logger for high-precision environmental monitoring
- A temperature logger, called “Niphargus”, was developed at the Geological Survey of Belgium to monitor temper- ature of local natural processes with sensitivity of the order of a few hundredths of degrees to monitor temperature variability in open air, caves, soils and rivers. The newly developed instrument uses a state-of-the-art band-gap sil- icon temperature sensor with digital output. This sensor reduces the risk of drift associated with thermistor-based sensing devices, especially in humid environments. The Niphargus is designed to be highly reliable, low-cost and powered by a single lithium cell with up to several years autonomy depending on the sampling rate and environ- mental conditions. The Niphargus was evaluated in an ice point bath experiment in terms of temperature accuracy and thermal inertia. The small size and low power consumption of the logger allow its use in difficult accessible environments, e.g. caves and space-constrained applications, inside a rock in a water stream. In both cases, the loggers have proven to be reliable and accurate devices. For example, spectral analysis of the temperature signal in the Han caves (Belgium) allowed detection and isolation of a 0.005 ̊C amplitude day-night periodic signal in the temperature curve.
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An empirical approach for risk based model to enable detection and measures against spread of Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
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In natura observations of multiple infection, genetic drift and reassortment of avian influenza viruses in wild mallards in Belgium.
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Flutree: An empirical approach for risk based model to enable detection and measures against spread of LPAI.
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Evaluation of four enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the serological survey of avian influenza in wild bird species.
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Chapter 21 - Clitellata: Oligochaeta
- Abstract This chapter introduces the Oligochaeta annelids, here treated as a paraphyletic stem group of the class Clitellata separated from the Hirudinea, Acanthobdellida, and Branchiobdellida. It starts by considering the group in a phylogenetic and taxonomic framework, as well as in terms of geographical distribution and diversity. It then deals with the general biology of these worms in describing their anatomy, physiology, reproduction and life history. Ecological and behavioral aspects of Oligochaeta are next addressed through topics related to habitat distribution and limitations due to physiological constraints, feeding behavior, predators and parasites, competition, impact on the environment, and their use as organic pollution indicators. By the end of the chapter, the scientific study of the Oligochaeta is addressed via practical aspects such as collecting, culturing, and specimen preparation for identification.
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The groundwater oligochaetes (Annelida, Clitellata) from the "Parc du Mercantour" (France), with the description of one new genus and two stygobiont new species
- ABSTRACT Although recognized as an outstanding hotspot of biodiversity for both flora and fauna, the Mercantour massif remains almost totally unexplored for its groundwater fauna. This work reports the first overview on groundwater oligochaete assemblages of the “Parc du Mercantour” after a standardized exploration of both consolidated (fractured massif) and unconsolidated (porous) aquifers. About 40 species of oligochaetes were found in 49 stations representative of the main hydrogeological basins of the “Parc du Mercantour”, from both spring and hyporheic zone habitats. Five stygobiont species are identified, probably all new to science, of which two species are formally described, Aberrantidrilus stephaniae n. gen., n. sp. (Naididae, Phallodrilinae) and Marionina sambugarae n. sp., a species belonging to the widespread Marionina argentea species complex (Enchytraeidae). As a result, the genus Abyssidrilus Erséus, 1992 is now restricted to its marine, abyssal species. A dozen of species can be considered as stygophiles. Most stygobiont species are recorded from hyporheic habitats, and stygophiles have a more balanced distribution between both kinds of habitats. The nearly absence of stygoxene species from the hyporheic zone suggests that this habitat is less affected by the epigean environment than springs. The dominance of enchytraeids among the groundwater oligochaete fauna is here confirmed, and the lumbriculid genus Trichodrilus is also a characteristic faunistic element of the underground freshwater oligochaete communities. Lastly, the possibility that Aberrantidrilus cuspis n. comb. sensu Sambugar et al. (1999) is a complex of cryptic species is discussed in the framework of recent progress in the knowledge of groundwater biodiversity. Key words: Aquatic Clitellata, Oligochaeta, groundwater, Mercantour, new species, Aberrantidrilus n. gen., Marionina, Abyssidrilus RESUME Oligochètes (Annelida, Clitellata) des eaux souterraines du Parc du Mercantour (France), avec description d’un nouveau genre et de deux nouvelles espèces stygobiontes. Bien qu’il soit reconnu comme un remarquable point chaud de biodiversité pour sa flore et sa faune, le massif du Mercantour reste presque totalement inexploré quant à sa faune souterraine. Ce travail rapporte le premier aperçu des assemblages d’oligochètes des eaux souterraines du « Parc du Mercantour », suivant une exploration standardisée des aquifères consolidés (massif fracturé) et non consolidés (poreux). Environ 40 espèces d’oligochètes ont été trouvées dans 49 stations représentatives des principaux bassins hydrogéographiques du « Parc du Mercantour », ainsi que des sources et de la zone hyporhéique. Cinq espèces stygobiontes ont été identifiées, probablement toutes nouvelles pour la Science, parmi lesquelles deux ont été formellement décrites, Aberrantidrilus stephaniae n. gen., n. sp. (Naididae, Phallodrilinae) et Marionina sambugarae n. sp., une espèce appartenant au complexe d’espèces Marionina argentea (Enchytraeidae) à large répartition. Il en résulte que le genre Abyssidrilus Erséus, 1992 est maintenant restreint à ses espèces marines et abyssales. Une douzaine d’espèces peuvent être considérées comme stygophiles. La plupart des espèces stygobiontes proviennent des habitats hyporhéiques tandis que les stygophiles se répartissent de façon plus équilibrée entre les deux types d’habitats. La quasi absence d’espèces stygoxènes dans la zone hyporhéique suggère que cet habitat est moins affecté par l’environnement épigé que les sources. La dominance des enchytréides au sein de la faune des oligochètes des eaux souterraines est ici confirmée, ainsi que le genre Trichodrilus en tant qu’élément faunistique le plus caractéristique des communautés des oligochètes des eaux douces souterraines. Enfin, la possibilité qu’Aberrantidrilus cuspis n. comb. sensu Sambugar et al. (1999) soit un complexe d’espèces cryptiques est discutée dans le cadre des progrès récents dans la connaissance de la biodiversité des eaux souterraines. Mots clés : Clitellata aquatiques, Oligochètes, eaux souterraines, Mercantour, nouvelles espèces, Aberrantidrilus n. gen., Marionina
