Search publications of the members of the Royal Belgian institute of natural Sciences
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BiodivERsA 2013-2014 Project Call Brochure: Promoting synergies and reducing trade-offs between food supply, biodiversity and ecosystem services
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Nature-based Solutions: New Influence for Environmental Management and Research in Europe
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Real-world complexity of food security and biodiversity conservation.
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Belgian Delegation Report IPBES-3 plenary 12-17 January Bonn, Germany
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Outputs of the Clustering Workshop „Improving the Science-Policy Interface of BiodivERsA funded projects: how to develop relevant clustered policy briefs and other potential collaborations among projects”, Brussels June 23-24, Belspo. BiodivERsA report, 2
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Communication Strategy for BiodivERsA3, BiodivERsA Deliverable 10.1 ; 34 pp.
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Energie (inclusief kabels en leidingen)
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Integrating capacity building and nature conservation in large-scale biodiversity surveys: Our Planet Reviewed Papua New Guinea
- During the terrestrial survey of the “Our Planet Reviewed” project in Papua New Guinea we created a bridge between biodiversity research, capacity building and nature conservation. The scientific aim of the project was to estimate, for the first time, the biological diversity generated by altitudinal turnover of insect species. The project was set up by the Natural History Museums of Brussels (RBINS) and Paris (MNHN), the NGO Pro-Natura International, the French IRD and, as local partners, the New Guinea Binatang Research Center (BRC) and the University of Papua New Guinea. Half of the core scientific team (ca 50 persons) was made of local research assistants and the other half of international biodiversity experts. Local research assistants (called paraecologists and parataxomists) were recruited in local communities, trained by BRC and supervized by the international experts. Locals were involved in sample collection, sample pre-sorting and received training and salary. This not only speeded up sample collection, but simultaneously supported nature conservation as the locals had means of income other than from commercial logging. We also paid land-use fees to land owners as compensation for collecting plants and animals in their forest plots. Conservation initiatives by local communities were further supported by funds from private sponsors raised by BRC. Funds were also collected to allow local scientists to visit overseas laboratories and to participate to international conferences. To summarize, large-scale biotic surveys are not only essential to understand the functioning of complex tropical ecosystems where biodiversity is highest but can also be important drivers of capacity building and nature conservation. Associated movie: “In the treetops of Papua New Guinea”. Director: Maurice Leponce. Author: Maurice Leponce & Gildas Corgnet, 2015, HD, 16min
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Ant mosaics in neotropical forests and elsewhere. . In XXII Simposio de Mirmecologia, 18-22 October, pp. 76, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brasil.
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Data flow in IBISCA projects. . In XXII Simposio de Mirmecologia, 18-22 October, pp. 97, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brasil.
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Studying ants in the treetops: perspectives.
- Studying ants in the treetops: perspectives Maurice Leponce Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, 29 rue Vautier, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Cranes, by offering direct access to the forest canopy, allow detailed studies of trophic interactions between ants, plants (floral and extra-floral nectaries) and other insects (especially honeydew producing Hemiptera). Crane availability and operation time (daytime) are however limiting the extent of these studies. We will review arboreal ant sampling methods that could be useful complements to canopy cranes. In particular we designed a rapid assessment protocol to study the spatial distribution (across trees and along tree trunks) and dominance hierarchy of ants in rainforests. This protocol is based on baits spread every 5m along a rope. One end of the rope is tied around the trunk and, with the help of a sling-shot, the other is slung over a branch in the canopy, forming a loop that enables the baits to be easily brought back down for inspection. On-site confrontations between dominant ants colonizing baits allow to map colony extension on neighbour trees. The baitline protocol has also potential to study food preferences, diel activity and to monitor dominant ant populations.
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In the treetops of Papua New Guinea. . In XXII Simposio de Mirmecologia, 18-22 October, pp. 159, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brasil.
- Papua New Guinea rainforests are among the most biodiverse on Earth. They still cover extensive areas but are being altered at a rapid rate. Their biodiversity is still largely unexplored especially in the treetops, called the canopy. For exploring the canopy biodiversity, new tools based on hot air or helium balloons are being developed. They allow collecting in situ plants and insects. Ants reign in the canopy. They are sometimes found living inside extraordinary epiphytes, which adapted their structure to accommodate the ants. For protecting native rainforests, an innovative approach, linking biodiversity research and capacity building, is implemented. Gifted naturalists, called parataxonomists and paraecologists, are recruited in villages and trained by internationally renowned scientists. Research stations create local employment. This source of income added to money from sponsors allow local communities to obtain access to a higher level of education and health care without having to give in to the pressure related to deforestation. (Author & director: Maurice Leponce, 2015, HD, 16min)
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Arboreal ant mosaics meltdown with elevation. In XXII Simposio de Mirmecologia, 18-22 October, pp. 302, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brasil.
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From individual diet determination to food web disentanglement: the use of stable isotopes and fatty acids in the study of ant trophic ecology. In: Congress of the Graduate School BEE (Biodiversity, Ecology, Evolution) Université Libre de Bruxelles, p. 17
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Fourmis, papous et isotopes: les réseaux trophiques le long du Mont Wilhelm. In 28ème Congrès de l'Union Internationale pour l'Etude des Insectes Sociaux, UIEIS 2015, Tours, 26-28 août, p. 17.
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Check list of ground-dwelling ant diversity (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Iguazú National Park with a comparison at regional scale
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Climate mediates the effects of disturbance on ant assemblage structure
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How territoriality and host-tree taxa determine the structure of ant mosaics.
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Traits allowing some ant species to nest syntopically with the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima in its native range
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The fire ant Solenopsis saevissima and habitat disturbance alter ant communities.
