Search publications of the members of the Royal Belgian institute of natural Sciences
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Potentialités et historique de la collection de squelettes identifiés de Schoten. (Belgique, 1837-1931).
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Les squelettes néolithiques découverts dans les grottes du Bassin mosan.
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5200-2000 av. J.-C. Premiers agriculteurs en Belgique
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Etude des restes humains de l’Ahu Te Niu (île de Pâques, Chili).
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Etude des os incinérés de la tombe de Saint-Denis, « Suargeon » (commune de La Bruyère, Province de Namur).
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Life strategy traits of the liana Sericostachys scandens spreading in the montane forests in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park (DR Congo).
- Sericostachys scandens is a monocarpic and heliophilous liana, native in tropical African forests. In the montane forests of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP) (East of DR Congo), it has been expanding very strongly for a decade, and is currently considered as having negative impacts on biodiversity conservation. In this paper, we test if S. scandens differs from three co-occurring, native, non spreading lianas (Gouania longispicata, Tacazzea apiculata and Adenia bequaertii) for functional traits which might influence plant expansion. For leaf traits (SLA, dry matter content, nitrogen concentration), S. scandens did not show extreme values compared to those of the three other lianas. In contrast, S. scandens had much higher biomass allocation to sexual reproduction. It also differs from the three other lianas for its reproductive strategy that combines both vegetative propagation and sexual reproduction, and propagule dispersal by wind. Moreover, S. scandens has larger leaves and a greater number of lateral branches per unit stem length. It is argued that the particular combination of functional traits exhibited by S. scandens may in part explain its propensity to behave as an opportunistic weed in the disturbed areas in the montane forests of Kahuzi-Biega.
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Natural woodland composition and vegetation dynamic during the Linearbandkeramik in north-western Europe (central Belgium, 5200-5000 b.c.)
- Charcoal analysis was carried out on seven Linearbandkeramik sites in Hesbaye (central Belgium), where a first and a second stage of settlement were highlighted. This provides opportunity to examine the vegetation dynamic during the LBK culture which lasted around 200 years in this region. The natural forest at the arrival of the Neolithic farming communities may have been quite closed, with low species diversity. A few gaps in the forest canopy probably allowed the local development of heliophilous species like Rosaceae as well as shrubs in the undergrowth. The impact of human activities, like house building, setting up fields or foddering, favoured the availability of light and the development of heliophilous post-pioneer taxa like Maloideae which have been particularly exploited for firewood during the second stage of settlement.
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Woody climbing plants influence the structure of the mountain forest in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, DR Congo
- In the mountain forests of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP), in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Sericostachys scandens, a woody climbing plant in the Amaranthaceae family, is expanding, trees appear to be negatively affected by this liana. In order to contribute to the understanding of the links between the expansion of the liana and the decline of its hosts, we compared the density and the species richness of the trees of dbh (diameter at breast height) ≥5 cm from the plots invaded by S. scandens with those from parcels that are still free from the invasion. The results of the paired unilateral t test applied to the overall sample showed that the tree density is very low in the plots dominated by the liana (p < 0.01), but that species richness is not affected (p > 0.05). In the class with diameter [10–30 cm], the lowest density of trees corresponds to the plots colonized by S. scandens, compared to the places where the liana is not abundant (p < 0.01). Further, the density of trees is significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the classes with diameters [5–10 cm] and ≥30 cm, in plots dominated by S. scandens. In conclusion, the emergence of the liana S. scandens has a negative effect on the density of the trees in the mountain forest of the KBNP. Résumé Dans les forêts de montagne du Parc National Kahuzi-Biega (PNKB), en République Démocratique du Congo, où Sericostachys scandens, plante ligneuse grimpante de la famille des Amaranthaceae, est en plein essor, son feuillage dense encombre les arbres et les étouffe. En vue de contribuer à élucider les liens entre l’expansion de cette liane et le déclin de ses hôtes, la densité et la richesse spécifique des arbres ayant un dbh («diameter at breast height», c’est –à –dire le diamètre mesuré à 1, 30 m au-dessus du sol) ≥5 cm des parcelles envahies par S. scandens ont été comparées à celles des endroits qui ne le sont pas. Le résultat du test t unilatéral par paires appliqué à l’échantillon global a montré que la densité des arbres est très basse dans les parcelles dominées par la liane (p < 0.01), mais qu’il n’y a pas d’effet sur la richesse spécifique (p > 0.05). Dans la classe de diamètre [10–30 cm[, une densité plus faible a été trouvée dans les parcelles colonisées par la liane par rapport à celles où elle n’abonde pas (p < 0.01). En plus, la densité des arbres est significativement basse (p < 0.05) dans les classes de diamètres [5–10 cm[et ≥30 cm dans les parcelles dominées par la liane. L’expansion de la liane S. scandens a donc un effet négatif sur la densité des arbres en forêt de montagne au PNKB.
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Notice explicative de la feuille Amberloup - Flamierge 60/5-6
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Towards Research which accelerates Development: The viewpoint of Africa
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Belgische Noordzee – Levend water! Biodiversiteit en Natura 2000 in het Belgische deel van de Noordzee.
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La mer du Nord belge – Une eau vive ! Biodiversité et Natura 2000 dans la partie belge de la mer du Nord
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Communiqué de presse à l’occasion du 22 mai 2012 / Perscommuniqué 22 mei 2012
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Les plus beaux rochers de Wallonie. Géologie et petite histoire.
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Vier seizoenale nieuwsbrieven met nieuwsjes en tips inzake biodiversiteit in het kader van de campagne ‘Ik geef leven aan mijn planeet’
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Biodiversity in development cooperation programmes
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Development of a internet tool for the follow-up of NBSAPs
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Eléments de suivi de la dynamique des habitats dans le Parc National de la Kibira (Burundi)
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Reconnaissance et suivi de l'évolution des habitats dans les aires protégées en République du Burundi
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Building capacities for biodiversity
