Since the publication of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) report, there has been an increased attention to the links between biodiversity, ecosystem services and human wellbeing.
We characterise the genetic diversity of the current Tyto alba population in Belgium and compare this to the genetic diversity from before the Harry Potter hype. This comparison will highlight whether/how much genetic material from foreign subspecies has entered our local population.
The recurrent gain and loss of identical but complex traits during the time course of evolution has puzzled evolutionary biologists since Darwin.
The cichlid species flocks of the East African Great Lakes form the most spectacular examples of adaptive radiation and explosive speciation in vertebrates. The endemic cichlid species flocks from some of the lesser lakes, such as Albert, Edward and Kivu have remained largely overlooked.
To develop a perpetual network of key stakeholders to collaborate and coordinate action on priority research, policy and management issues on the African Great Lakes region through regular and consistent communication exchange, this project will host an applied, collaborative workshop which creates lake committees on each of the African Great La
The Lake Tanganyika sprat (Stolothrissa tanganicae) and the Lake Tanganyika sardine (Limnothrissa miodon), form the bulk of the fisheries in Lake Tanganyika, which provide a livelihood for tens of thousands of lakeshore fishermen and a cheap source of protein for millions of people in the neighbouring countries.
Secondary sexual traits, being traits that allow males to increase their mating success, such as the Peacock’s tail, represent one of the most astonishing and rapidly evolving traits in nature.
Lake Edward is shared between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The lake is unique amongst the East African Great Lakes as its shoreline is completely surrounded by protected areas. Lake Edward stands out due to its high productivity, but, in the last decades, its fishery seemed to have collapsed.
Information on the invasive potential of a species is crucial to assess likely future impacts on biodiversity and to improve the scientific basis for decision-making on biological invasions.
The main objective of this project is to define the genomic differentiation that drives the mate choice, and hence the speciation process (differential gene-expression in the brains of female fishes).
