Search publications of the members of the Royal Belgian institute of natural Sciences
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Automatische registreersystemen geïnstalleerd aan boord van de zandwinningsschepen: overzicht van de verwerkte data van het jaar 2012. MDO/2013-20/ZAGRI, 31 p. 12 fig.
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Modelling dispersal dynamics of the early life stages of a marine flatfish (Solea solea L.).
- Connectivity throughout the life cycle of flatfish remains an open question, especially during the early life stages. Their effective management requires understanding of how spawning grounds and nurseries are connected and what processes influence larval retention and dispersal. The case of sole (Solea solea L.) is of particular interest because it is one of the most valuable commercial species in the North Sea, although stocks are chronically overexploited and variability in interannual recruitment is high. The transport of sole larvae from the spawning grounds to the nurseries is driven by hydrodynamic processes, but the final dispersal pattern and larval survival/abundance might be influenced by both behavioral and environmental factors. Therefore it is important to understand the relative impact of hydrodynamics, environment, behavior and ecophysiology on sole larval dispersal. Here we use a particle-tracking transport model coupled to a 3D hydro-dynamic model of the North Sea to investigate interannual variability of the transport of sole larvae over a 12-year period (1995–2006). A sensitivity analysis is performed to assess the relative impact of hydrodynamics, temperature and behavior on the recruitment dynamics to the nurseries. Four scenarios have been tested: (i) constant forcing of sea surface temperature during all years but varying meteorological forcing and river runoff, (ii) constant meteorological forcing during the whole period but varying sea surface temperature and river runoff, (iii) no vertical migration and (iv) an extended drift period (max. 30 days) before settlement if the larvae are not close to a suitable sediment type. Results suggest that year-to-year variability of larval supply to the nurseries is high, both in terms of abundance and larval source (balance between retention and dispersal). Sensitivity analysis shows that larval abundance at the end of the larval stage increases considerably if a settling delay is included. The impact of vertical migration on larval transport and the variations in larval retention at the nurseries due to varying meteorological conditions and sea surface temperature forcing are not spatially consistent.
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Spectral relationships for atmospheric correction. II. Improving NASA's standard and MUMM near infra-red modeling schemes.
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Regional environmental pressure influences population differentiation in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus).
- Unravelling the factors shaping the genetic structure of mobile marine species is challenging due to the high potential for gene flow. However, genetic inference can be greatly enhanced by increasing the genomic, geographical or environmental resolution of population genetic studies. Here, we investigated the population structure of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) by screening 17 random and gene-linked markers in 999 individuals at 290 geographical locations throughout the northeast Atlantic Ocean. A seascape genetics approach with the inclusion of high-resolution oceanographical data was used to quantify the association of genetic variation with spatial, temporal and environmental parameters. Neutral loci identified three subgroups: an Atlantic group, a Baltic Sea group and one on the Irish Shelf. The inclusion of loci putatively under selection suggested an additional break in the North Sea, subdividing southern from northern Atlantic individuals. Environmental and spatial seascape variables correlated marginally with neutral genetic variation, but explained significant proportions (respectively, 8.7% and 10.3%) of adaptive genetic variation. Environmental variables associated with outlier allele frequencies included salinity, temperature, bottom shear stress, dissolved oxygen concentration and depth of the pycnocline. Furthermore, levels of explained adaptive genetic variation differed markedly between basins (3% vs. 12% in the North and Baltic Sea, respectively). We suggest that stable environmental selection pressure contributes to relatively strong local adaptation in the Baltic Sea. Our seascape genetic approach using a large number of sampling locations and associated oceanographical data proved useful for the identification of population units as the basis of management decisions.
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Species identification of archaeological dung remains. A critical review of possible methods
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Die Bryozoen des klassischen Dano-Montiens von Mons (Belgien)
- Deze samenvatting is niet beschikbaar in het Nederlands. Résumé Les Bryozoaires du Dano-Montian classique du nouveau forage scientifique de Mons (1969) et de l'ancien "Puits artésien de l'Ecole des Mines" (= Faculté Polytechnique de Mons) comportent 58 espèces, parmi lesquelles se trouvent 18 Cyclostomata et 40 Cheilostomata. Les espèces étudiées ne représentent qu'une partie de l'ensemble des Bryozoaires, plus nombreux, contenus dans le Tuffeau de Ciply, sa couche basale (Poudingue de la Malogne) et le "Postmaestrichtien" de la région de Maestricht (Pays-Bas). Les taxa suivants sont nouveaux : Genres Retecavella, Monticellaria, Diplobeisselina, Schizemiellopsis, Taenioporella et Puncturiellina nov. subg. Espèces Crisidia lagaaiji, Reteporidea pseudolichenoides, Rectecavella broodi, Callopora tegulata, Pithodella impar, Stamenocella marlierei, Planicellaria bugei, "Membranipora " rectangulata, "Membranipora " subclavatoides, Onychocella meijeri; Pseudothyracella ciplyensis, Floridina eisdenensis, Floridina membraniporoides, Lunulites ratheimensis, Hemistylus dissimilis, Monticellaria obscura n.g. n.sp., Porina hamulifera et Floridina scutata brevior n.subsp. Dans le forage de Mons, la partie la plus élevée (de 11,60 m à 24 m) contient une association très caractéristique de Bryozoaires cheilostomes presque uniquement constitués de segments de formes articulées ("cellariiformes") parmi lesquelles Monsella eocena (MEUNIER et PERGENS), Nellia pergensii DARTEVELLE, Nellia tenella (LAMARCK), Pseudothyracella mucronata, Poricellaria diplodidymioides (MEUNIER & PERGENS) et d'autres genres flexibles sont prédominants. Cette association faunistique doit être interprétée comme une faune d'eau agitée (habitat sur des algues), littorale à sublittorale.Bien que correspondant au stratotype du Montien (sensu stricto), elle n'est pas utilisable au sens stratigraphique. Elle correspond à peu près aux Couches à Triginglymus du puits artésien de l'Ecole des Mines (selon MARLIERE, 1958). Dans ce dernier puits, un niveau intermédiaire (à Cytheretta) conduit à ces couches plus profondes (à Cytherelloidea) qui correspondent au Tuffeau de Ciply ; mais du haut en bas, les Bryozoaires ne montrent aucun changement significatif. La forte représentation des espèces daniennes de Bryozoaires renforce les conclusions basées sur des études micropaléontologiques et paléontologiques (e.g. BERGGREN (1964), RASMUSSEN (1962, 1965), MEIJER (1969), POZARYSKA (1966), MOORKENS (1982) selon lesquelles le Tuffeau de Ciply équivaut au Danien moyen et supérieur, bien que d'autre part, beaucoup des Bryozoaires du Danien baltique manquent ici. Comme on ne connaît jusqu'à présent aucune faune de Bryozoaires (du Paléocène à l'Eocène) qui puisse être comparée aux précédentes, il est difficile de séparer le Danien du Montien sur la seule base des Bryozoaires. Pour éviter les malentendus, on ne peut pas encore renoncer à l'usage du terme "Dano-Montien" pour caractériser la faune de Bryozoaires d'une région méridionale (Belgique, Pays-Bas, Bas Rhin) à l'opposé d'une province boréale (Danien et Selandien baltique et polonais). On ne peut pas écarter la possibilité que les Bryozoaires étudiés et, avec eux, les faunes du Tuffeau de Ciply et du "Post-Maestrichtien" limbourgeois soient en partie plus jeunes et correspondent éventuellement au Sélandien. Abstract The Bryozoa of the classic Dano-Montien near Mons. In this paper the Bryozoa of the Dano-Montian from the new scientific Borehole in Mons and the older classic Borehole of the "puits artésien de l'Ecole des Mines" (now Faculté des Mines) in Mons are described. Among the 58 species of Bryozoa are 18 Cyclostomata and 40 Cheilostamata. These comprise only a part of the very much richer Bryozoan Fauna of the Dano-Montian, in particular that of the Tuffeau de Ciply and its basal bed (Poudingue de la Malogne) in Belgium and the so-called "Postmaastrichtian", of the Netherlands (South Limburg). The following genera are new: Retecavella, Monticellaria, Diplobeisselina, Schizemiellopsis and Taenioporella. The subgenus Puncturiellina is new. New species are : Crisidia lagaaiji, Reteporidea pseudolichenoides, Rectecavella broodi, Callopora tegulata, Pithodella impar, tamenocella marlierei, Planicellaria bugei, "Membranipora" rectangulata, "Membranipora" subclavatoides, Onychocella meijeri, Pseudothyracella ciplyensis, Floridina eisdenensis, Floridina membraniporoides, Lunulites ratheimensis, Hemistylus dissimilis, Monticellaria obscura n.g. n.sp., Porina hamulifera and Floridina scutata brevior n.subsp. The uppermost 12 m of the Mons Borehole, corresponding to the stratotype of the Montian sensu stricto, has yielded a very characteristic assemblage of cheilostomatous Bryozoa consisting almost entirely of segments of articulated ("cellariiform") zoaria, among which Monsella eocena (MEUNIER & PERGENS), Poricellaria diplodidymyoides (MEUNIER & PERGENS), Pseudothyracella (?) mucronata, Nellia pergensii DARTEVELLE and Nellia tenella LAMARCK and other flexible genera predominate. This assemblage settling on seaweeds indicates a high energy environment in Litoral and Sublitoral zones, and is itself of no biostratigraphical significance. This part of the succession approximately equates with the upper Triginglymus horizon of the ostracod zonation established by MARLIERE (1958) for the Ecole des Mines Borehole. The underlying succession of the Mons Borehole comprises a transition zone with Cytheretta and a deeper horizon with Cytherelloidea, which corresponds to the Tuffeau de Ciply. In contrast to the Ostracoda, the Bryozoa exhibit no significant faunal change between the upper and lower units. The considerable number of bryozoan species in the Tuffeau de Ciply, which are known also from the Baltic Danian, supports the idea - already suggested by other palaeontological and micropalaeontological studies (e.g. BERGGREN (1964) RASMUSSEN (1962, 1965) MEIJER (1969), POZARYSKA (1966), MOORKENS (1982), that the Tuffeau de Ciply equates with the Middle and Upper Danian, even though many of the characteristic species of the type Danian are lacking in the Belgian and Dutch Dano-Montian. Due to the fact, that no bryozoan faunal sequences are known from the Paleocene, which continue through to the Eocene and which can be compared with the material considered here, it is not yet possible to erect a zonation for the Dano-Montian and later Paleocene based on Bryozoa alone. To avoid misunderstanding, the term "Dano-Montian" is retained here to cover the bryozoan faunes of the southern faunal province comprising Belgium, the Netherlands and western Germany in contradistinction to those of the boreal province comprising the Baltic - Polish Danian and Selandian. The possibility cannot be excluded, that the bryozoan faunas in question, including those of the Tuffeau de Ciply and the Limburg "Postmaastrichtian", are partly later, and perhaps even of Selandian age. This problem is discussed in the light of micropalaeontological investigations. Zusammenfassung Die Arbeit behandelt die Bryozoen aus dem Dano-Montien der wissenschaftlichen Bohrung Mons (= "Obourg") und der alten Bohrung "puits artésien de l'Ecole des Mines" (jetzt Faculté polytechnique in Mons). Unter den 58 Arten der in den Proben beider Bohrungen angetroffenen Arten befinden sich 18 Cyclostomata und 40 Cheilostomata. Diese stellen jedoch nur einen Teil der sehr viel reicheren Bryozoenfauna des Dano - Montiens, insbesondere des Tuffeau de Ciply und seiner Basalschicht (Poudingue de la Malogne) in Belgien und des sog. "Postmaastrichtiens" in Südlimburg (Niederlande) dar. Neu aufgestellte Genera sind : Retecavella, Monticellaria, Diplobeisselina, Schizemiellopsis und Taenioporella.Ein neues Subgenus ist Puncturiellina. Neue Arten sind : Crisidia lagaaiji, Reteporidea pseudolichenoides, Rectecavella broodi, Callopora tegulata, Pithodella impar,Stamenocella marlierei, Planicellaria bugei, "Membranipora " rectangulata, "Membranipora » subclavatoides, Onychocella meijeri; Pseudothyracella ciplyensis, Floridina eisdenensis, Floridina embraniporoides, Lunulites ratheimensis, Hemistylus dissimilis, Monticellaria obscura n.g. n.sp., Porina hamulifera und die neue Unterart Floridina scutata brevior n.subsp. In der Bohrung Mons weisen die oberen 12 m eine sehr charakteristische Assoziation cheilostomer Bryozoen auf, die fast nur aus den Segmenten artikulierter ("cellariiformer") Zoarien besteht, unter denen Monsella eocena (MEUNIER & PERGENS), Poricellaria diplodidymioides (MEUNIER & PERGENS), Nellia pergensii DARTEVELLE, Nellia tenella (LAMARCK), Pseudothyracella mucronata (MEUNIER & PERGENS) und andere flexible Genera vorherrschen. Diese Assoziation ist als eine Fauna des bewegten Wassers (Algenbewuchs) im Littoral bis Sublittoral zu deuten und stellt, obwohl sie den Stratotyp des Montiens (s. str.) repräsentiert, keine stratigraphisch verwertbare Faunenassoziation dar. Sie entspricht etwa dem Triginglymus- Horizont der Ostracodengliederung des Profils nach MARLIERE (1958) in der Bohrung der Ecole des Mines. Die darunter folgende Schichtfolge der Bohrung Mons leitet über einen Zwischenbereich mit Cytheretta zu dem tieferen Horizont mit Cytherellidea über, der dem Tuffeau de Ciply entspricht; doch zeigen die Bryozoen keinen deutlichen Faunenwechsel zwischen dem oberen und unteren Abschnitt an. Der grosse Anteil von Danienbryozoenarten stützt die Auffassung auf Grund palaeontologischer und micropaläontologischer Arbeiten z.B. BERGGREN (1964), RASMUSSEN (1962, 1965), MEIJER (1959, 1969), MOORKENS (1982), dass der Tuffeau von Ciply ein Äquivalent des mittleren und oberen Daniens ist, obwohl andererseits viele der charakteristischen Danienbryozoen des baltischen Daniens hier fehlen. Da es im Paläocän bisher keine vom Danien bis zum Eocän durchgehende Bryozoenfauna gibt, die mit der vorliegenden Fauna verglichen werden kann, ist es unmöglich allein mit Hilfe der Bryozoen eine Zonierung des Dano - Montiens und des jüngeren Paläocäns durchzuführen. Es ist daher schwierig, auf Grund der vorliegenden Fauna das Danien gegen das Montien abzugrenzen. Zur Vermeidung von Missverständnissen kann daher auf den Begriff "Dano - Montien" noch nicht verzichtet werden, der hier die Bryozoenfaunen der südlichen Faunenprovinz in Belgien, Holland und am Niederrhein im Gegensatz zu dem borealen Bereich im baltisch - polnischen Danien und Selandien beleichnet. Die Möglichkeit, dass die vorliegende Bryozoenfauna und mit ihr die Fauna des Tuffeau de Ciply und des limburgischen "Postmaastrichtiens" teilweise jünger sind und ev. dem Selandien entsprechen, ist nicht auszuschliessen und wird anhand der bisherigen ikropalaeontologischen Forschunsergebnisse diskutiert.
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The Quaternary of Belgium in its relationship to the stratigraphical legend of the Geological map
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The effect of pile driving on marine mammals and fish in Belgian waters. In Environmental impacts of offshore wind farms in the Belgian part of the North Sea: Learning from the past to optimize future monitoring programs. Degraer S., Brabant R. and Rume
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Changes in 20th century extreme temperature and precipitation over the western United States based on observations and regional climate model simulations.
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Edwardsiella tarda sepsis in a live-stranded sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus).
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De invloed van geluidspollutie op zeezoogdieren.
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De invloed van geluidspollutie op zeezoogdieren. In: A. Jonckheere, B. Lagae, K. Wautier & D. Segers (Eds.) Wetenschap zet de toon.
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Een avontuurlijke zeehond
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Opmerkelijke aantallen bruinvissen in de eerste helft van 2013.
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2012 Annual National Report to ASCOBANS. 20th ASCOBANS Advisory Committee Meeting. Warshaw, Poland, 27-29 August 2013, doc. AC20/Doc.13.a
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Grey seals predating on harbour porpoises: a recent and spreading phenomenon? 27th Conference of the European cetacean society: Interdisciplinary approaches in the study of marine mammals.
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Attraction of harbour porpoises to offshore wind farms: what can be expected? In: S. Degraer, R. Brabant and B. Rumes (Eds.) Environmental impacts of the offshore windfarms in the Belgian part of the North Sea: learning from the past to optimize future m
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The stranding anomaly as population indicator: the case of harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena in North-Western Europe.
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From first stock keepers to specialised pastoralists in the West African savannah
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(Functionele) agro-biodiversiteit: een verrassende kijk op landbouw en natuur
- In the framework of the European project SOLABIO (INTERREG IVA, 2009-2012), the Flemish Land Agency (VLM) launched a sur- vey to estimate the potential added value of different types of field margins for the survival of butterflies, carabid beetles and flying insect species which are known as winged natural enemies of crop pests. The abundances and diversities of butterflies on monitored and newly cre- ated field margins surrounding arable fields or pastures and control sites were compared at several locations in Western and Eastern Flanders. This study indicates that an adapted duo-management of field margins (i.e. mowing each year only half of the field margin) can give the best results for butterflies when the field margins are already low in nutri- ents. Several years of mowing and removing cut material, impoverish- ing the field margins, seems to be a necessary prerequisite for a success- ful duo-management. In the province of Limburg carabid assemblages were sampled in arable fields and surrounding field margins and com- pared. Several rare carabid species had vital populations in managed field margins. The number of individuals increased when sampling further in the arable field compared to the field margin. However, the number of species and diversity decreased when sampling further away from the field margin into the arable field. Our study suggests that an adequate management of field margins in the framework of ‘functional agro-biodiversity’ (here with focus on pest-management) is feasible and yields in advantages for farmers, landscape and biodiversity
