Search publications of the members of the Royal Belgian institute of natural Sciences
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Changes in precipitation as inferred from a Holocene speleothem from the Hotton cave (Hotton, Marche–en-Famenne, Belgium)
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Petrography, geochemistry and stable isotope geochemistry of a banded columnar calcite deposit sampled at 1000 meters depth in the Wépion core drilling, Wépion, Belgium, implications for the origin of the calcite
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Kwaliteitsdocumentatie en definiëring van referentieobjecten voor de Databank Ondergrond Vlaanderen (VLA 10-2.1)
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Harpacticoid copepod colonization of coral fragments in a tropical reef lagoon (Zanzibar, Tanzania)
- Colonization experiments were conducted in a tropical lagoon (Zanzibar Island, off the coast of Tanzania) to investigate the temporal dynamics and mode of colonization of the harpacticoid copepods community on dead coral fragments. There was fast colonization of the coral fragments attaining a substantial diversity after only two days. The ability to colonize dead coral fragments is thought to be related to the morphology and life style of different harpacticoid species. Phytal taxa (e.g. Tisbidae) were fast colonizers, reaching high abundances during the initial colonization phase. Sediment-associated and eurytopic taxa (e.g. Ameiridae, Miraciidae and Ectinosomatidae) showed lower colonization rates and became the dominant group during the later colonization phase. Most species are able to colonize the coral fragments through the water column. However, colonization along the substrate surface is also considered to be an important colonization mode, especially for sediment-associated taxa, which showed lower colonization rates when migration through the sediment was hindered.
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Distribution patterns of subsurface copepods and the impact of environmental parameters
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On the brink - investigating biodiversity in endangered crater lakes of the Amber Mountains National Park (Madagascar)
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Updating the zooplankton species list for the Belgian part of the North Sea
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Community structure of harpacticoid copepods in intertidal and shallow-water habitats of Cat Ba archipelago (Vietnam, South China Sea)
- The assemblage structure of harpacticoid copepods inhabiting the soft sediments of littoral and sublittoral areas of Cat Ba archipelago (South China Sea) is analysed. Three basic types of harpacticoid taxocenes were observed in the upper sublittoral. Main dominant species of taxocenes were Amphiascoides sp., Stenhelia latioperculata, Paramphiascella sp., Phyllopodopsyllus sp., Tisbe sp.1 and Amphiascoides sp. In addition, the main characteristics of harpacticoid species composition in littoral rock pools are described. A comparative analysis of shallow-water harpacticoid communities from different biotopes of the tropical region is presented, and shows that harpacticoid diversity and abundance are lowest in muddy sediments. Highest diversity and abundance are found in washed sands and silty sands with detritus. In general, the structure of muddy bottom communities is the most homogeneous throughout the tropics. Mangrove forests have no significant influence on harpacticoid taxocene structure. Harpacticoid associations of washed sands and silty sands with detritus demonstrate greater diversity and are region-specific.
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High-resolution X-ray CT for 3D petrography of ferruginous sandstone for an investigation of building stone decay
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Early diversification of seeds and seed-like structures
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The Middle Devonian plant assemblage from Dechra Aït Abdallah (Central Morocco) revisited
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Fifteen microsatellite loci for the decollate snail, Rumina decollata.
- We characterized 15 microsatellite loci from the decollate snail, Rumina decollata. Loci were screened in 21 individuals and several individuals of the congener Rumina saharica. There was ample allelic diversity (6–12 alleles per locus) but observed heterozygosity values were extremely low (0–0.421). This was expected given the high self-fertilization rate in this species. Ten of the 15 loci were successfully amplified in R. saharica. These loci provide tools for examining the population genetics and taxomomic boundaries in R. decollata and its allies.
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Optimisation of Polymerase Chain Reaction for Detection of Clostridium botulinum Type C and D in Bovine Samples.
- Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The economic, medical and alimentary consequences can be catastrophic in case of an epizooty. A polymer-ase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay was developed for the detection of C. botulinumtoxigenic strains type C and D in bovine samples. This assay has proved to be less expensive, faster and simpler to use than the mouse bioassay, the current reference method for diagnosis of C. botulinum toxigenic strains. Three pairs of primers were designed, one for global detection of C. botulinum types C and D (primer pair Y), and two strain-specific pairs specifically designed for types C (primer pair VC) and D (primer pair VD). The PCR amplification conditions were optimized and evaluated on 13 bovine and two duck samples that had been previously tested by the mouse bioassay. In order to assess the impact of sample treatment, both DNA extracted from crude sam-ples and three different enrichment broths (TYG, CMM, CMM followed by TYG) were tested. A 100% sensitivity was observed when samples were enriched for 5 days in CMM followed by 1 day in TYG broth. False-negative results were encountered when C. botulinum was screened for in crude samples. These findings indicate that the current PCR is a reliable method for the detection of C. botulinum toxigenic strains type C and D in bovine samples but only after proper enrichment in CMM and TYG broth
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Defense by Volatiles in Leaf-Mining Insect Larvae
- Abstract The defense strategy of an insect toward natural enemies can include a trait that appears at first sight to contradict its defensive function. We explored phylogeny, chemistry, and defense efficiency of a peculiar group of hymenopteran sawfly larvae where this contradiction is obvious. Pseudodineurini larvae live in leaf mines that protect them from some enemies. Disturbed larvae also emit a clearly perceptible lemon-like odor produced by ventral glands, although the mine hampers the evaporation of the secretion. The mine could also lead to autointoxication of a larva by its own emitted volatiles. Citral was the major component in all Pseudodineurini species, and it efficiently repels ants. We conclude that full-grown larvae that leave their mine to pupate in the soil benefit from citral by avoiding attacks from ground-dwelling arthropods such as ants. In some species, we also detected biosynthetically related compounds, two 8-oxocitral diastereomers (i.e., (2E,6E)- and (2E,6Z)-2,6-dimethylocta-2,6-dienedial). Synthetic 8-oxocitral proved to be a potent fungicide, but not an ant repellent. The discrete distribution of 8-oxocitral was unrelated to species grouping in the phylogenetic tree. In contrast, we discovered that its presence was associated with species from humid and cold zones but absent in species favoring warm and dry environments. The former should be protected by 8-oxocitral when faced with a fungal infestation while crawling into the soil. Our work shows the importance of integrating knowledge about behavior, morphology, and life history stages for understanding the complex evolution of insects and especially their defense strategies.
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Towards a revision of the Neotropical soldierless termites (Isoptera : Termitidae): redescription of the genus Anoplotermes and description of Longustitermes, gen. nov.
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Incongruence between molecular phylogeny and morphological classification in amphipod crustaceans: A case study of Antarctic lysianassoids
- In Antarctic waters, the superfamily Lysianassoidea is one of the most important amphipod groups both in terms of species number and abundance. Dominant members of this superfamily are species of the orchomenid complex, found throughout the Southern Ocean. This study presents the first molecular phylogenetic analysis based on a representative subset of the Antarctic species belonging to different orchomenid genera and hence provides a framework for a systematic revision of these taxa. The current classification of the orchomenid genera is mainly based on mouthpart morphology. The validity of these morphological characters was assessed by resolving phylogenetic relationships using nuclear 28S rRNA and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequences. The molecular data rejected most of the previously proposed taxonomic subdivisions within this complex. The genera Abyssorchomene and Orchomenella as well as the subgenus Orchomenopsis appeared to be non-monophyletic. This implies that the supposed diagnostic characters are likely a result of convergent evolution. Further, our results indicated the necessity of a revision of the family-level systematics.
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The Francesʼ Sparrowhawk Accipiter francesiae (Aves: Accipitridae) radiation on the Comoro islands
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DNA barcoding and evolutionary relationships in Accipiter Brisson, 1760 (Aves, Falconiformes: Accipitridae) with a focus on African and Eurasian representatives
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Host Shifts from Lamiales to Brassicaceae in the Sawfly Genus Athalia
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First Large-Scale DNA Barcoding Assessment of Reptiles in the Biodiversity Hotspot of Madagascar, Based on Newly Designed COI Primers
