Search publications of the members of the Royal Belgian institute of natural Sciences
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The importance of biological factors affecting trace metal concentration as revealed from accumulation patterns in co-occurring terrestrial invertebrates
- As physicochemical properties of the soil highly influence the bioavailable fraction of a particular trace metal, measured metal body burdens in a particular species are often assumed to be more reliable estimators of the contamination of the biota. To test this we compared the Cd, Cu and Zn content of three spiders (generalist predators) and two amphipods (detritivores), co-occurring in seven tidal marshes along the river Schelde, between each other and with the total metal concentrations and the concentrations of four sequential extractions of the soils. Correlations were significant in only one case and significant site x species interactions for all metals demonstrate that factors affecting metal concentration were species and site specific and not solely determined by site specific characteristics. These results emphasize that site and species specific biological factors might be of the utmost importance in determining the contamination of the biota, at least for higher trophic levels. A hypothetical example clarifies these findings. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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The richness and paucity of the spider fauna of the Belgian coast.
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La Formation des schistes noires de Matagne et l'extinction du Dévonien Supérieur
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A single tooth replacement pattern generates diversity in the dentition in cichlids of the tribe Eretmodini, endemic to Lake Tanganyika.pdf
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Biology of the Soricidae
- Crocidura is the largest shrew genus, and occurs in most of the Old World. Its taxonomy is complex, and some species are morphologically so similar that they are allocated to “species groups”. Among the African Crocidura, several species are in need of taxonomic revision or are known by a few speci- mens only. Additional sampling is necessary to in- crease the number of specimens available in order to perform multivariate analyses of morphological characters. Meanwhile, molecular tools might help solve taxonomical difficulties and select specimens for further analyses. We used a combined morpho- logical and molecular approach to investigate spe- cies boundaries and phylogenetic relationships within African Crocidura species groups. We se- quenced part of the 16s rRNA mitochondrial gene of 131 specimens, representing a minimum of 30 morphologically defined species. Mitochondrial DNA sequences confirmed the distinctness of spe- cies in groups where cranio-dental characters allow reliable specific identification, but failed to confirm the differentiation of species within the most com- plex species groups. Within two of these groups, haplotypes tended to cluster by localities rather than by putative species, suggesting potential synonymy. We also detected three potentially new or unrecog- nized species. Our findings are encouraging, but will have to be further investigated using multivariate analyses of morphological characters and additional molecular analyses.
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Chapter 14 Genetic Traces Of Environmental Variations In Ancient Lakes
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De la phylogénie comparée à la biogéographie historique l'exemple des quelques mammifères forestiers d'Afrique Centrale
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Lake level fluctuations and speciation in rock-dwelling cichlid fish in lake Tanganyika, East Africa
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Mitochondrial Phylogeny of African woord mice, genus Hylomyscus (Rodentia, Muridae): Implications for their taxonomy and biogeography
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Mitochondrial phylogeny reveals differential modes of chromosomal evolution in ther genus tatera (Rodentia: Gerbillinae) in Africa
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Patterns of diversification in two African forest shrews: Sylvisorex johnstoni and Sylvisorex ollula (Soricidae, Insectiovora) in relation to paleo-environmental changes
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Respiration of Sepia officinalis during embryonic and early juvenile age
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Small mammals morphology and molecules - Tale bearing tenant of the Nigerian southwestern forest block
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The effect of complexation by organic ligands on the bioavailability of copper to the brine shrimp Artemia sp..pdf
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The Tanganyika problem comments on the taxonomy and distribution patterns of its cichlid fauna.pdf
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Acceptance of two native myrmecophilous species, Platyarthrus hoffmannseggii (Isopoda : Oniscidea) and Cyphoderus albinus (Collembola : Cyphoderidae) by the introduced invasive garden ant Lasius neglectus (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) in Belgium
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Ant biodiversity conservation in Belgian calcareous grasslands: active management is vital
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Centipede communities on the inland dunes of eastern Flanders (Belgium)
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Changes in the distribution of carabid beetles in Belgium revisited: Have we halted the diversity loss?
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Distribution and ecology of mosquito larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) in Flanders (Belgium)
