Search publications of the members of the Royal Belgian institute of natural Sciences
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The benthic foraminiferal response to the mid-Maastrichtian event in the NW-European chalk sea of the Maastrichtian type area
- The mid-Maastrichtian carbon isotope event (MME), dated at ∼69 Ma, reflects a perturbation of the global carbon cycle that, in part, correlates with the enigmatic global extinction of ‘true’ (i.e., non-tegulated) inoceramid bivalves. The mechanisms of this extinction event are still debated. While both the inoceramid extirpation and MME have been recorded in a variety of deep-sea sites, little is known about their expression in epicontinental chalk seas. In order to study the shallow-marine signature of the MME in this epicontinental shelf sea, we have generated quantitative foraminiferal assemblage data for two quarries (Hallembaye, NE Belgium; ENCI, SE Netherlands) in the Maastrichtian type area, complemented by a species-specific benthic δ13C record. In contrast to deep-sea records, no significant changes in benthic foraminiferal assemblages and benthic foraminiferal accumulation rates are observed across the MME in the type-Maastrichtian area. At the Hallembaye quarry, the otherwise rare endobenthic species Cuneus trigona reaches a transient peak abundance of 33.3% at the onset of the MME, likely caused by a local transient change in organic matter flux to the seafloor. Nevertheless, high and near-constant species evenness shows that neither oxygen nor organic matter flux was limited across the extinction level or during the MME. Benthic foraminiferal data from the uppermost part of the studied section, above the MME, indicate a significant increase in food supply to the seafloor. Decreased amounts of terrigenous elements across this interval document a lesser riverine or aeolian influx, which means that the increased benthic productivity is linked to a different origin. Potentially, the continuous precipitation of chalk under nutrient-poor conditions in the Late Cretaceous chalk sea was enabled by efficient nutrient recycling in the water column. In shallower depositional settings, nutrient recycling took place closer to the seafloor, which allowed more organic matter to reach the bottom. These results provide insights in the importance of nutrient cycling for biological productivity in the NW-European chalk sea.
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Identification of Funding Priorities. Document OTSOPA 22/02/02 presented by Belgium and France at the Meeting of the Working Group on Operational, Technical and Scientific Questions Concerning Counter Pollution Activities (OTSOPA)
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Discussion document on the status of the MAVI Working Groups on Strategic and Operational aspects (MAVI-SOWG) and Technical aspects (MAVI-TWG) and possible pathways towards a MAVI project proposal. Document OTSOPA 22/02/03 (+ Add. 1+2) presented by Belgiu
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Minutes of the first meeting of the MAVI Technical Working Group (MAVI-TWG) held on 05/05/22. Document presented by the MAVI-TWG Co-convenors at the Meeting of the Working Group on Operational, Technical and Scientific Questions Concerning Counter Polluti
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Significant Acute Pollution Events under the MSFD D8C3/D8C4. Document OTSOPA 22/02/05 Rev.1 (+ Add. 1) presented by Belgium and the Secretariat at the Meeting of the Working Group on Operational, Technical and Scientific Questions Concerning Counter Pollu
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Draft report on Tour d’Horizon 2021 and multi-annual TdH trends. Document OTSOPA 22/05/02 presented by Belgium at the Meeting of the Working Group on Operational, Technical and Scientific Questions Concerning Counter Pollution Activities (OTSOPA)
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Recent trends in MARPOL Annex II discharges in the Southern North Sea: FAME and POME. Document OTSOPA 22/05/06 presented by Belgium at the Meeting of the Working Group on Operational, Technical and Scientific Questions Concerning Counter Pollution Activit
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Update from the ICG-IFP and text proposal on funding priorities for the BA website. Document BONN 22/3/2 presented by the Co-convenors of ICG-IFP at the 34th meeting of Bonn Agreement Contracting Parties
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2021 Tour d’Horizon Report. Document BONN 22/3/4 presented by Belgium at the 34th meeting of Bonn Agreement Contracting Parties
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Update on the status of the MAVI Working Groups on Strategic and Operational aspects (MAVI-SOWG) and Technical aspects (MAVI-TWG) and the OTSOPA22 outcome. Document BONN/3/5 (+ Add. 1+2) presented by the Co-convenors of SOWG & TWG at the 34th meeting of B
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Significant acute pollution events under the MSFD D8C3/D8C4. Document BONN 22/3/6 (+ Add. 1+2) presented by Belgium and the Secretariat at the 34th meeting of Bonn Agreement Contracting Parties, Dublin, Ireland
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Indices d’efficacité energétique.
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Tour d’Horizon 2022, 05-09 September 2022. Mission Report
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Airborne monitoring of compliance to sulfur emission regulations by ocean-going vessels in the Belgian North Sea area
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Airborne monitoring of compliance to NOx emission regulations from ocean-going vessels in the Belgian North Sea
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Measurement of Sulfur-Dioxide Emissions from Ocean-Going Vessels in Belgium using Novel Techniques
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New hyaenodonta (Mammalia) from the middle Eocene of Myanmar
- The middle Eocene Pondaung Formation in Myanmar has yielded a rich mammalian faunaincluding several Primate taxa. Hyaenodonta are known by the genera Kyawdawia, Yarshea,Orienspterodon, and two other indeterminate taxa. We describe here new material of Kyaw-dawia, including some morphological details, a new species of the hypercarnivorous genusPropterodon and an indeterminate species, different from those described earlier in Myan-mar, and characterized by a reduction of m3 and would belong to a third lineage with thesame evolutionary trend as Galecyon and the Limnocyoninae. The hyainailourines (Orien-spterodon) and hyaenodontines (Propterodon) are recorded for the first time in SoutheastAsia and these subfamilies appeared in quasi the same time in Europe illustrating probablya profound change in the carnivorous fauna among Laurasia.
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Belgium on the lookout for exotic mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae).
- Based on the current spread of exotic mosquito species (EMS) in Europe, the number of interceptions in Belgium and suitability models developed for Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in Europe, EMS are likely to establish and spread in Belgium. A prerequisite for their control is their early detection. Therefore, the Belgian federal authorities and the federated entities funded a 3-year active monitoring project (MEMO) (July 2017–June 2020). The aims are early detection of EMS in Belgium, quantifying locally established EMS populations, evaluating the EMS import risk at possible points of entry (PoE), expand reference collections and make recommendations for a future, long-term, cost-effective EMS monitoring plan in Belgium. Monitoring activities are implemented at 23 PoE using adult trapping with CO2 and lure traps, egg sampling with oviposition traps and larval sampling with dipping nets. DNA barcoding is used to validate morphological identifications and to expand the DNA reference database. Specimens are also added to the morphological reference collection at Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. Since July 2017, four EMS were intercepted. The colonised area of Ae. koreicus (Edwards) in Belgium increased from 7 to 113 km2. Aedes japonicus (Theobald) was detected again in southern Belgium, from where it was thought to be eliminated. This species has now also been collected on the border with Germany. Anopheles pharoensis (Theobald) entered Belgium via cargo transport. Aedes albopictus was intercepted at four PoE. To conclude, EMS are effectively entering and spreading in Belgium and appropriate control management strategies on the national level are urgently required.
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The state of the art of the exotic mosquito species in Belgium: new invasion pathways detected.
- In July 2017, a three year monitoring project (MEMO) aiming at detecting and evaluating the occurrence and invasion phase of exotic mosquitoes (EMS) in Belgium started. Adult traps and ovitraps were placed and larval sampling was conducted at 23 locations. These locations were selected based on their high potential of introducing EMS. DNA-based techniques are used to verify the morphological identification of 5% of the collected mosquito specimens. In 2017, 2622 adult mosquitoes, 2916 larvae and 650 eggs were collected. In total 15 species (or complexes) belonging to 5 genera (Aedes, Anopheles, Culex, Culiseta and Coquillettidia) were identified. Morphological and DNAbased identifications were in agreement. Furthermore, DNA sequence data confirmed that adults of the Anopheles maculipennis complex were Anopheles messeae and that both Culex pipiens biotype pipiens and biotype molestus were collected. Culiseta longiareolata was for the first time observed in Belgium. EMS made up 2% of all collected specimens. Three EMS, Aedes japonicus, Aedes koreicus and Anopheles pharoensis were intercepted in 2017. In the first six months of 2018, Aedes albopictus was intercepted at four locations. Previous monitoring projects indicated that Aedes mosquitoes entered Belgium via import of lucky bamboo plants and of tyres. New for Belgium is the interception of Aedes albopictus and Aedes japonicus along the border with France and Germany, respectively. And the interception of Anopheles pharoenis in a cargo airport. In the first case, a possible natural spread from these countries may have occurred. In this perspective, the understanding of the invasion process of the three exotic Aedes species, based on field observations and population genetics, will provide information on their invasion phase (introduction, establishment or spread) and seasonality which will be essential to guide surveillance and control.
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Molecular Identification of an Invasive Sarotherodon Species from the Atchakpa Freshwater Reservoir (Ouémé River Basin, Benin) and Comparison within S. melanotheron Using COI Markers
