PARADIVE
Tematyka badań
Nasze badania koncentrują się na makroewolucji, w szczególności na wpływie interakcji biotycznych (np. pasożytnictwo) i abiotycznych (np. klimat) na ewolucję organizmów. Zajmujemy się także metodami ilościowymi w badaniach paleontologicznych i paleobiologicznych. Badamy szeroki zakres skamieniałości, od bezkręgowców morskich do skamieniałości śladowych i przykładów paleopatologii. Aktualnie badamy wpływ ocieplania się klimatu i wymierania na interakcje pasożyt-żywiciel i związane z tym choroby.
Publikacje
2025
Skawina, Aleksandra; De Baets, Kenneth
PalGes 2024 – Joint Meeting of Polish Paleobiologists and the 95th Annual Meeting of the Paläontologische Gesellschaft, Warsaw, Poland Journal Article
In: Folia Malacologica, vol. 33, no. 2, 2025, ISSN: 2300-7125.
@article{Skawina2025,
title = {PalGes 2024 – Joint Meeting of Polish Paleobiologists and the 95th Annual Meeting of the Paläontologische Gesellschaft, Warsaw, Poland},
author = {Aleksandra Skawina and De Baets, Kenneth},
doi = {10.12657/folmal.033.010},
issn = {2300-7125},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-05-06},
urldate = {2025-05-06},
journal = {Folia Malacologica},
volume = {33},
number = {2},
publisher = {Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Goñi, Iban; Monnet, Claude; De Baets, Kenneth; Topper, Timothy P.; Régnier, Sylvie; Schröer, Laurenz; Cnudde, Veerle; Jell, Peter A.; Clausen, Sébastien
Symbiotic interactions on middle Cambrian echinoderms reveal the oldest parasitism on deuterostomes Journal Article
In: Scientific Reports, vol. 15, no. 1-11, 2025, ISSN: 2045-2322.
@article{Goñi2025,
title = {Symbiotic interactions on middle Cambrian echinoderms reveal the oldest parasitism on deuterostomes},
author = {Iban Goñi and Claude Monnet and De Baets, Kenneth and Timothy P. Topper and Sylvie Régnier and Laurenz Schröer and Veerle Cnudde and Peter A. Jell and Sébastien Clausen},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-025-97932-1},
issn = {2045-2322},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-04-24},
urldate = {2025-12-00},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1-11},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Łukowiak, Magdalena; Cóndor-Luján, Baslavi; Seixas, Victor Corrêa; Artega, Alvaro; Cerpa, Luis; Zaremba, Katarzyna; Audycki, Jonatan
Comparison of Recent and sub-fossil sponge communities of West Antarctica Journal Article
In: APP, vol. 70, 2025, ISSN: 0567-7920.
@article{Łukowiak2025,
title = {Comparison of Recent and sub-fossil sponge communities of West Antarctica},
author = {Magdalena Łukowiak and Baslavi Cóndor-Luján and Victor Corrêa Seixas and Alvaro Artega and Luis Cerpa and Katarzyna Zaremba and Jonatan Audycki},
doi = {10.4202/app.01166.2024},
issn = {0567-7920},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-03-11},
urldate = {2025-03-11},
journal = {APP},
volume = {70},
publisher = {Polska Akademia Nauk Instytut Paleobiologii (Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences)},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2024
De Baets, Kenneth
Evolution: Morphological complexity fuels rapid species turnover Journal Article
In: Current Biology, vol. 34, no. 24, pp. R1235–R1237, 2024, ISSN: 0960-9822.
@article{DeBaets2024b,
title = {Evolution: Morphological complexity fuels rapid species turnover},
author = {De Baets, Kenneth},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2024.11.001},
issn = {0960-9822},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-12-16},
urldate = {2024-12-00},
journal = {Current Biology},
volume = {34},
number = {24},
pages = {R1235--R1237},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
De Baets, Kenneth; Dentzien-Dias, Paula; Huntley, John Warren; Vanhove, Maarten P. M.; Łaska, Weronika; Skawina, Aleksandra; Van Steenkiste, Niels W. L.; Vanadzina, Karina
Fossil constraints on the origin and evolution of Platyhelminthes are surprisingly concordant with modern molecular phylogenies Journal Article
In: Zoologia (Curitiba), vol. 41, pp. e24002, 2024, ISSN: 1984-4689.
@article{DeBaets2024,
title = {Fossil constraints on the origin and evolution of Platyhelminthes are surprisingly concordant with modern molecular phylogenies},
author = {De Baets, Kenneth and Paula Dentzien-Dias and John Warren Huntley and Maarten P.M. Vanhove and Weronika Łaska and Aleksandra Skawina and Van Steenkiste, Niels W.L. and Karina Vanadzina},
doi = {10.1590/s1984-4689.v41.e24002},
issn = {1984-4689},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-11-29},
urldate = {2024-11-29},
journal = {Zoologia (Curitiba)},
volume = {41},
pages = {e24002},
publisher = {FapUNIFESP (SciELO)},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Klug, Christian; Schweigert, Günter; Hoffmann, René; Fuchs, Dirk; Pohle, Alexander; Weis, Robert; De Baets, Kenneth
Anatomy and size of Megateuthis, the largest belemnite Journal Article
In: Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, vol. 143, no. 1, pp. 1-19, 2024, ISSN: 1664-2384.
@article{Klug2024,
title = {Anatomy and size of Megateuthis, the largest belemnite},
author = {Christian Klug and Günter Schweigert and René Hoffmann and Dirk Fuchs and Alexander Pohle and Robert Weis and De Baets, Kenneth},
doi = {10.1186/s13358-024-00320-x},
issn = {1664-2384},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-05-30},
urldate = {2024-05-30},
journal = {Swiss Journal of Palaeontology},
volume = {143},
number = {1},
pages = {1-19},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Belemnite rostra are very abundant in Mesozoic marine deposits in many regions. Despite this abundance, soft-tissue specimens of belemnites informing about anatomy and proportions of these coleoid cephalopods are extremely rare and limited to a few moderately large genera like <jats:italic>Passaloteuthis</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Hibolithes</jats:italic>. For all other genera, we can make inferences on their body proportions and body as well as mantle length by extrapolating from complete material. We collected data of the proportions of the hard parts of some Jurassic belemnites in order to learn about shared characteristics in their gross anatomy. This knowledge is then applied to the Bajocian genus <jats:italic>Megateuthis</jats:italic>, which is the largest known belemnite genus worldwide. Our results provide simple ratios that can be used to estimate belemnite body size, where only the rostrum is known.</jats:p>},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Belemnite rostra are very abundant in Mesozoic marine deposits in many regions. Despite this abundance, soft-tissue specimens of belemnites informing about anatomy and proportions of these coleoid cephalopods are extremely rare and limited to a few moderately large genera like <jats:italic>Passaloteuthis</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Hibolithes</jats:italic>. For all other genera, we can make inferences on their body proportions and body as well as mantle length by extrapolating from complete material. We collected data of the proportions of the hard parts of some Jurassic belemnites in order to learn about shared characteristics in their gross anatomy. This knowledge is then applied to the Bajocian genus <jats:italic>Megateuthis</jats:italic>, which is the largest known belemnite genus worldwide. Our results provide simple ratios that can be used to estimate belemnite body size, where only the rostrum is known.</jats:p>
Łaska, Weronika; Rodríguez-Tovar, Francisco J; Uchman, Alfred
New insights into endolithic palaeocommunity development in mobile hard substrate using CT imaging of bioeroded clasts from the Pliocene (Almería, SE Spain) Journal Article
In: The Science of Nature, vol. 111, no. 1, pp. 1–25, 2024.
@article{laska2024new,
title = {New insights into endolithic palaeocommunity development in mobile hard substrate using CT imaging of bioeroded clasts from the Pliocene (Almería, SE Spain)},
author = {Weronika Łaska and Francisco J Rodríguez-Tovar and Alfred Uchman},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-02-08},
urldate = {2024-01-01},
journal = {The Science of Nature},
volume = {111},
number = {1},
pages = {1–25},
publisher = {Springer},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Skawina, Aleksandra; Dąbrowska, Agnieszka; Bonk, Agata; Paterczyk, Bohdan; Nowakowska, Julita
Tracking the micro-and nanoplastics in the terrestrial-freshwater food webs. Bivalves as sentinel species Journal Article
In: Science of The Total Environment, vol. 917, pp. 170468, 2024.
@article{skawina2024tracking,
title = {Tracking the micro-and nanoplastics in the terrestrial-freshwater food webs. Bivalves as sentinel species},
author = {Aleksandra Skawina and Agnieszka Dąbrowska and Agata Bonk and Bohdan Paterczyk and Julita Nowakowska},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170468},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-02-05},
urldate = {2024-02-05},
journal = {Science of The Total Environment},
volume = {917},
pages = {170468},
publisher = {Elsevier},
abstract = {Micro- (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are currently ubiquitous in the ecosystems, and freshwater biota is still insufficiently studied to understand the global fate, transport paths, and consequences of their presence. Thus, in this study, we investigated the role of bivalves and a trophic transfer of MPs and NPs in an experimental food chain. The food chain consisted of terrestrial non-selective detritivore Dendrobaena (Eisenia) sp., freshwater benthic filter feeder Unio tumidus, and freshwater benthic detritivore-collectors Asellus aquaticus or Gammarus sp. Animals were exposed to different fluorescently labeled micro- and nanoplastics (PMMA 20 μm, nanoPS 15–18 nm, and 100 nm, PS 1 μm and 20 μm, PE from cosmetics) as well as to the faeces of animals exposed to plastics to assess their influence on the environmental transportation, availability to biota, and bioaccumulation of supplied particles. Damaged and intact fluorescent particles were observed in the faeces of terrestrial detritivores and in the droppings of aquatic filter feeders, respectively. They were also present in the guts of bivalves and of crustaceans which were fed with bivalve droppings. Bivalves (Unio tumidus, and additionally Unio pictorum, and Sphaerium corneum) produced droppings containing micro- and nanoparticles filtered from suspension and deposited them onto the tank bottom, making them available for broader feeding guilds of animals (e.g. collectors, like crustaceans). Finally, the natural ageing of PS and its morphological changes, leakage of the fluorescent labelling, and agglomeration of particles were demonstrated. That supports our hypothesis of the crucial role of the characterization of physical and chemical materials in adequately understanding the mechanisms of their interaction with biota. Microscopical methods (confocal, fluorescent, scanning electron) and Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy were used to track the particles' passage in a food web and monitor structural changes of the MPs' and NPs' surface.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Micro- (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are currently ubiquitous in the ecosystems, and freshwater biota is still insufficiently studied to understand the global fate, transport paths, and consequences of their presence. Thus, in this study, we investigated the role of bivalves and a trophic transfer of MPs and NPs in an experimental food chain. The food chain consisted of terrestrial non-selective detritivore Dendrobaena (Eisenia) sp., freshwater benthic filter feeder Unio tumidus, and freshwater benthic detritivore-collectors Asellus aquaticus or Gammarus sp. Animals were exposed to different fluorescently labeled micro- and nanoplastics (PMMA 20 μm, nanoPS 15–18 nm, and 100 nm, PS 1 μm and 20 μm, PE from cosmetics) as well as to the faeces of animals exposed to plastics to assess their influence on the environmental transportation, availability to biota, and bioaccumulation of supplied particles. Damaged and intact fluorescent particles were observed in the faeces of terrestrial detritivores and in the droppings of aquatic filter feeders, respectively. They were also present in the guts of bivalves and of crustaceans which were fed with bivalve droppings. Bivalves (Unio tumidus, and additionally Unio pictorum, and Sphaerium corneum) produced droppings containing micro- and nanoparticles filtered from suspension and deposited them onto the tank bottom, making them available for broader feeding guilds of animals (e.g. collectors, like crustaceans). Finally, the natural ageing of PS and its morphological changes, leakage of the fluorescent labelling, and agglomeration of particles were demonstrated. That supports our hypothesis of the crucial role of the characterization of physical and chemical materials in adequately understanding the mechanisms of their interaction with biota. Microscopical methods (confocal, fluorescent, scanning electron) and Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy were used to track the particles' passage in a food web and monitor structural changes of the MPs' and NPs' surface.
2023
Klug, Christian; Stevens, Kevin; Hoffmann, René; Zatoń, Michał; Clements, Thomas; Košťák, Martin; Weis, Robert; De Baets, Kenneth; Lehmann, Jens; Vinther, Jakob; Fuchs, Dirk
Revisiting the identification of Syllipsimopodi bideni and timing of the decabrachian-octobrachian divergence Journal Article
In: Nature Communications, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 8094, 2023, ISSN: 2041-1723.
@article{klug_revisiting_2023,
title = {Revisiting the identification of Syllipsimopodi bideni and timing of the decabrachian-octobrachian divergence},
author = {Christian Klug and Kevin Stevens and René Hoffmann and Michał Zatoń and Thomas Clements and Martin Košťák and Robert Weis and De Baets, Kenneth and Jens Lehmann and Jakob Vinther and Dirk Fuchs},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-42842-x},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-023-42842-x},
issn = {2041-1723},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-12-07},
urldate = {2023-12-07},
journal = {Nature Communications},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {8094},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Barido-Sottani, Joëlle; Pohle, Alexander; De Baets, Kenneth; Murdock, Duncan; Warnock, Rachel C. M.
Putting the F into FBD analysis: tree constraints or morphological data? Journal Article
In: Palaeontology, vol. 66, no. 6, pp. e12679, 2023.
@article{https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12679,
title = {Putting the F into FBD analysis: tree constraints or morphological data?},
author = {Joëlle Barido-Sottani and Alexander Pohle and De Baets, Kenneth and Duncan Murdock and Rachel C. M. Warnock},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/pala.12679},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12679},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-11-12},
urldate = {2023-11-12},
journal = {Palaeontology},
volume = {66},
number = {6},
pages = {e12679},
abstract = {Abstract The fossilized birth–death (FBD) process provides an ideal model for inferring phylogenies from both extant and fossil taxa. Using this approach, fossils are directly integrated into the tree, leading to a statistically coherent prior on divergence times. Since fossils are typically not associated with molecular sequences, additional information is required to place fossils in the tree. We use simulations to evaluate two different approaches to handling fossil placement in FBD analyses: using topological constraints, where the user specifies monophyletic clades based on established taxonomy, or using total-evidence analyses, which use a morphological data matrix in addition to the molecular alignment. We also explore how rate variation in fossil recovery or diversification rates impacts these approaches. We find that the extant topology is well recovered under all methods of fossil placement. Divergence times are similarly well recovered across all methods, with the exception of constraints which contain errors. We see similar patterns in datasets which include rate variation, however, relative errors in extant divergence times increase when more variation is included in the dataset, for all approaches using topological constraints, and particularly for constraints with errors. Finally, we show that trees recovered under the FBD model are more accurate than those estimated using non-time calibrated inference. Overall, we show that both fossil placement approaches are reliable even when including uncertainty. Our results underscore the importance of core taxonomic research, including morphological data collection and species descriptions, irrespective of the approach to handling phylogenetic uncertainty using the FBD process.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Abstract The fossilized birth–death (FBD) process provides an ideal model for inferring phylogenies from both extant and fossil taxa. Using this approach, fossils are directly integrated into the tree, leading to a statistically coherent prior on divergence times. Since fossils are typically not associated with molecular sequences, additional information is required to place fossils in the tree. We use simulations to evaluate two different approaches to handling fossil placement in FBD analyses: using topological constraints, where the user specifies monophyletic clades based on established taxonomy, or using total-evidence analyses, which use a morphological data matrix in addition to the molecular alignment. We also explore how rate variation in fossil recovery or diversification rates impacts these approaches. We find that the extant topology is well recovered under all methods of fossil placement. Divergence times are similarly well recovered across all methods, with the exception of constraints which contain errors. We see similar patterns in datasets which include rate variation, however, relative errors in extant divergence times increase when more variation is included in the dataset, for all approaches using topological constraints, and particularly for constraints with errors. Finally, we show that trees recovered under the FBD model are more accurate than those estimated using non-time calibrated inference. Overall, we show that both fossil placement approaches are reliable even when including uncertainty. Our results underscore the importance of core taxonomic research, including morphological data collection and species descriptions, irrespective of the approach to handling phylogenetic uncertainty using the FBD process.
Skawina, Aleksandra
X-rays and invisible sand: two new methods for designing burrowing behavioral experiments with juvenile unionoids Journal Article
In: Hydrobiologia, 2023.
@article{Skawina_23_hydro,
title = {X-rays and invisible sand: two new methods for designing burrowing behavioral experiments with juvenile unionoids},
author = {Aleksandra Skawina},
doi = {10.1007/s10750-023-05362-9},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-09-20},
urldate = {2023-09-20},
journal = {Hydrobiologia},
abstract = {Unionoids are in global decline, which may be associated with their complex life cycle. Their juveniles are unique because while hidden (burrowed deeply in bottom sediments) they undergo critical anatomical changes (also developing a characteristic juvenile shell sculpture). Currently, the juveniles’ period of life is believed to be both the least known and one of the most vulnerable—thus the possibility of obtaining any biological knowledge is essential for establishing conservation strategies and addressing functional or evolutionary questions. I propose two new methods for visualization of the burrowing behavior of unionoid juveniles within deposits that are cheap and easy: (1) laminated deposits of quartz–aragonite sand for time-stepped X-ray images of bivalve traces, and (2) silica gel serving as 'invisible sand' for direct observations and video recording of behavior within sediments. Both deposits in a pilot study were accepted by the juvenile unionoids—they were stable enough and penetrable, with no observable signs of harmful effects on animals’ behavior during trials. In both, juveniles were clearly visible, settled within the top 1 cm layer of deposits. Both methods are promising tools for future in situ within the deposits research on the biology of this much unexplored and vulnerable unionoids' life stage.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Unionoids are in global decline, which may be associated with their complex life cycle. Their juveniles are unique because while hidden (burrowed deeply in bottom sediments) they undergo critical anatomical changes (also developing a characteristic juvenile shell sculpture). Currently, the juveniles’ period of life is believed to be both the least known and one of the most vulnerable—thus the possibility of obtaining any biological knowledge is essential for establishing conservation strategies and addressing functional or evolutionary questions. I propose two new methods for visualization of the burrowing behavior of unionoid juveniles within deposits that are cheap and easy: (1) laminated deposits of quartz–aragonite sand for time-stepped X-ray images of bivalve traces, and (2) silica gel serving as 'invisible sand' for direct observations and video recording of behavior within sediments. Both deposits in a pilot study were accepted by the juvenile unionoids—they were stable enough and penetrable, with no observable signs of harmful effects on animals’ behavior during trials. In both, juveniles were clearly visible, settled within the top 1 cm layer of deposits. Both methods are promising tools for future in situ within the deposits research on the biology of this much unexplored and vulnerable unionoids' life stage.
Nätscher, Paulina S.; Gliwa, Jana; De Baets, Kenneth; Ghaderi, Abbas; Korn, Dieter
Exceptions to the temperature–size rule: no Lilliput Effect in end-Permian ostracods (Crustacea) from Aras Valley (northwest Iran) Journal Article
In: Palaeontology, vol. 66, no. 4, pp. e12667, 2023.
@article{https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12667,
title = {Exceptions to the temperature–size rule: no Lilliput Effect in end-Permian ostracods (Crustacea) from Aras Valley (northwest Iran)},
author = {Paulina S. Nätscher and Jana Gliwa and De Baets, Kenneth and Abbas Ghaderi and Dieter Korn},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/pala.12667},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12667},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-07-11},
urldate = {2023-01-01},
journal = {Palaeontology},
volume = {66},
number = {4},
pages = {e12667},
abstract = {Abstract The body size of marine ectotherms is often negatively correlated with ambient water temperature, as seen in many clades during the hyperthermal crisis of the end-Permian mass extinction (c. 252 Ma). However, in the case of ostracods, size changes during ancient hyperthermal events are rarely quantified. In this study, we evaluate the body size changes of ostracods in the Aras Valley section (northwest Iran) in response to the drastic warming during the end-Permian mass extinction at three taxonomic levels: class, order, species. At the assemblage level, the warming triggers a complete species turnover in the Aras Valley section, with larger, newly emerging species dominating the immediate post-extinction assemblage for a short time. Individual ostracod species and instars do not show dwarfing or a change in body size as an adaptation to the temperature stress during the end-Permian crisis. This may indicate that the ostracods in the Aras Valley section might have been exceptions to the temperature–size rule (TSR), using an adaptation mechanism that does not involve a decrease in body size. This adaptation might be similar to the accelerated development despite constant instar body sizes that can be observed in some recent experimental studies of ostracod responses to thermal stress.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Abstract The body size of marine ectotherms is often negatively correlated with ambient water temperature, as seen in many clades during the hyperthermal crisis of the end-Permian mass extinction (c. 252 Ma). However, in the case of ostracods, size changes during ancient hyperthermal events are rarely quantified. In this study, we evaluate the body size changes of ostracods in the Aras Valley section (northwest Iran) in response to the drastic warming during the end-Permian mass extinction at three taxonomic levels: class, order, species. At the assemblage level, the warming triggers a complete species turnover in the Aras Valley section, with larger, newly emerging species dominating the immediate post-extinction assemblage for a short time. Individual ostracod species and instars do not show dwarfing or a change in body size as an adaptation to the temperature stress during the end-Permian crisis. This may indicate that the ostracods in the Aras Valley section might have been exceptions to the temperature–size rule (TSR), using an adaptation mechanism that does not involve a decrease in body size. This adaptation might be similar to the accelerated development despite constant instar body sizes that can be observed in some recent experimental studies of ostracod responses to thermal stress.
Allaire, Ninon; Ginot, Samuel; De Baets, Kenneth; Korn, Dieter; Goudemand, Nicolas; Monnet, Claude; Crônier, Catherine
Morphological disparity of early ammonoids: A geometric morphometric approach to investigate conch geometry Journal Article
In: Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, vol. 68, no. 2, pp. 193–212, 2023.
@article{allaire2023morphological,
title = {Morphological disparity of early ammonoids: A geometric morphometric approach to investigate conch geometry},
author = {Ninon Allaire and Samuel Ginot and De Baets, Kenneth and Dieter Korn and Nicolas Goudemand and Claude Monnet and Catherine Crônier},
url = {https://www.app.pan.pl/article/item/app010332022.html},
doi = {10.4202/app.01033.2022},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-07-03},
urldate = {2023-07-03},
journal = {Acta Palaeontologica Polonica},
volume = {68},
number = {2},
pages = {193–212},
abstract = {Fossils of Devonian ammonoids are abundant and well-preserved in the Anti-Atlas of Morocco; as such they provide an invaluable record of regional morphological disparity changes (diversity of shapes) that characterise the first steps of ammonoid evolution. However, they were rarely analysed quantitatively with respect to their morphological spectrum. Here, we investigated the morphological disparity of the Early–Middle Devonian ammonoids of the Moroccan Anti- Atlas by analysing the shape of their whorl profile. A geometric morphometric approach based on the acquisition of outline semilandmark coordinates was used to analyse the whorl profiles. For comparison, morphometric ratios based on classical conch measurements were also analysed to investigate the overall conch geometry. Several standard disparity estimators were computed to measure different aspects of morphological disparity fluctuations through time. It appears that a major increase in disparity occurred throughout the Early Devonian, followed by fluctuating disparity during the Middle Devonian constituting a general decreasing trend. Only the end-Eifelian Kačák Event shows a significant decrease in disparity. Thus, the ammonoids explored the range of possible shapes fairly quickly during their initial radiation; however, we found no evidence for an early burst of shape diversity (i.e., the rise does not exceed the expectations given diversity). Nevertheless, correlation tests between diversity and disparity time series support that they are partially decoupled. The highly resolved biozone record highlights that the increase in disparity began earlier than the increase in diversity that characterises the late Emsian.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Fossils of Devonian ammonoids are abundant and well-preserved in the Anti-Atlas of Morocco; as such they provide an invaluable record of regional morphological disparity changes (diversity of shapes) that characterise the first steps of ammonoid evolution. However, they were rarely analysed quantitatively with respect to their morphological spectrum. Here, we investigated the morphological disparity of the Early–Middle Devonian ammonoids of the Moroccan Anti- Atlas by analysing the shape of their whorl profile. A geometric morphometric approach based on the acquisition of outline semilandmark coordinates was used to analyse the whorl profiles. For comparison, morphometric ratios based on classical conch measurements were also analysed to investigate the overall conch geometry. Several standard disparity estimators were computed to measure different aspects of morphological disparity fluctuations through time. It appears that a major increase in disparity occurred throughout the Early Devonian, followed by fluctuating disparity during the Middle Devonian constituting a general decreasing trend. Only the end-Eifelian Kačák Event shows a significant decrease in disparity. Thus, the ammonoids explored the range of possible shapes fairly quickly during their initial radiation; however, we found no evidence for an early burst of shape diversity (i.e., the rise does not exceed the expectations given diversity). Nevertheless, correlation tests between diversity and disparity time series support that they are partially decoupled. The highly resolved biozone record highlights that the increase in disparity began earlier than the increase in diversity that characterises the late Emsian.
De Baets, Kenneth; Vanadzina, Karina; Schiffbauer, James
Parasitic Relationships: Trapped in time Journal Article
In: eLife, vol. 12, pp. e90008, 2023, ISSN: 2050-084X.
@article{10.7554/eLife.90008,
title = {Parasitic Relationships: Trapped in time},
author = {De Baets, Kenneth and Karina Vanadzina and James Schiffbauer},
url = {https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.90008},
doi = {10.7554/eLife.90008},
issn = {2050-084X},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-07-01},
urldate = {2023-07-01},
journal = {eLife},
volume = {12},
pages = {e90008},
publisher = {eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd},
abstract = {Analysis of specimens preserved in amber from the Cretaceous period suggests that nematodes changed their host preference towards insects with a complete metamorphosis more recently.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Analysis of specimens preserved in amber from the Cretaceous period suggests that nematodes changed their host preference towards insects with a complete metamorphosis more recently.
Vinn, Olev; De Baets, Kenneth; Isakar, Mare; Toom, Ursula
Parasite-induced shell damage in brachiopod Porambonites (Porambonites) laticaudata from the Late Ordovician (Sandbian) of Estonia Journal Article
In: Estonian Journal of Earth Sciences, vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 110–113, 2023.
@article{vinn2023parasite,
title = {Parasite-induced shell damage in brachiopod Porambonites (Porambonites) laticaudata from the Late Ordovician (Sandbian) of Estonia},
author = {Vinn, Olev and De Baets, Kenneth and Isakar, Mare and Toom, Ursula },
url = {https://kirj.ee/wp-content/plugins/kirj/pub/earth-1-2023-110-113_20230610122825.pdf},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-06-14},
urldate = {2023-06-14},
journal = {Estonian Journal of Earth Sciences},
volume = {72},
number = {1},
pages = {110–113},
abstract = {A new type of shell damage has been described in Ordovician brachiopods in Porambonites (Porambonites) laticaudata. There is a pair of small pits with somewhat different outline in the shell surface at the anterior commissure of the brachiopod. These pits are oriented in lateral direction, about 40o from the direction of the sulcus on the anterior commissure. Previously known shell damage has resulted from failed predatory attacks by durophagous predators and differ from the shell damage in P. (P.) laticaudata. The pits in the shell margin are most likely the result of shell malformation caused by the presence of symbionts. It is plausible that the symbionts of the P. (P.) laticaudata benefitted from inhalant currents and were cleptoparasites. The symbionts caused damage to the host brachiopod, which also suggests a parasitic relationship.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
A new type of shell damage has been described in Ordovician brachiopods in Porambonites (Porambonites) laticaudata. There is a pair of small pits with somewhat different outline in the shell surface at the anterior commissure of the brachiopod. These pits are oriented in lateral direction, about 40o from the direction of the sulcus on the anterior commissure. Previously known shell damage has resulted from failed predatory attacks by durophagous predators and differ from the shell damage in P. (P.) laticaudata. The pits in the shell margin are most likely the result of shell malformation caused by the presence of symbionts. It is plausible that the symbionts of the P. (P.) laticaudata benefitted from inhalant currents and were cleptoparasites. The symbionts caused damage to the host brachiopod, which also suggests a parasitic relationship.
Hsieh, Shannon; Łaska, Weronika; Uchman, Alfred
Intermittent and temporally variable bioturbation by some terrestrial invertebrates: implications for ichnology Journal Article
In: The Science of Nature, vol. 110, no. 2, pp. 11, 2023.
@article{hsieh2023intermittent,
title = {Intermittent and temporally variable bioturbation by some terrestrial invertebrates: implications for ichnology},
author = {Shannon Hsieh and Weronika Łaska and Alfred Uchman},
doi = {10.1007/s00114-023-01833-0},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-03-07},
urldate = {2023-03-07},
journal = {The Science of Nature},
volume = {110},
number = {2},
pages = {11},
publisher = {Springer},
abstract = {Bedding planes and vertical sections of many sedimentary rock formations reveal bioturbation structures, including burrows, produced by diverse animal taxa at different rates and durations. These variables are not directly measurable in the fossil record, but neoichnological observations and experiments provide informative analogues. Comparable to marine invertebrates from many phyla, a captive beetle larva burrowing over 2 weeks showed high rates of sediment disturbance within the first 100 h but slower rates afterwards. Tunnelling by earthworms and adult dung beetles is also inconstant—displacement of lithic material alternates with organic matter displacement, often driven by food availability with more locomotion when hungry. High rates of bioturbation, as with locomotion generally, result from internal and external drives, slowing down or stopping when needs are filled. Like other processes affecting sediment deposition and erosion, rates can drastically differ based on measured timescale, with short bursts of activity followed by hiatuses, concentrated in various seasons and ontogenetic stages for particular species. Assumptions of constant velocities within movement paths, left as traces afterward, may not apply in many cases. Arguments about energetic efficiency or optimal foraging based on ichnofossils have often overlooked these and related issues. Single bioturbation rates from short-term experiments in captivity may not be comparable to rates measured at an ecosystem level over a year or generalized across multiple time scales where conditions differ even for the same species. Neoichnological work, with an understanding of lifetime variabilities in bioturbation and their drivers, helps connect ichnology with behavioural biology and movement ecology.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Bedding planes and vertical sections of many sedimentary rock formations reveal bioturbation structures, including burrows, produced by diverse animal taxa at different rates and durations. These variables are not directly measurable in the fossil record, but neoichnological observations and experiments provide informative analogues. Comparable to marine invertebrates from many phyla, a captive beetle larva burrowing over 2 weeks showed high rates of sediment disturbance within the first 100 h but slower rates afterwards. Tunnelling by earthworms and adult dung beetles is also inconstant—displacement of lithic material alternates with organic matter displacement, often driven by food availability with more locomotion when hungry. High rates of bioturbation, as with locomotion generally, result from internal and external drives, slowing down or stopping when needs are filled. Like other processes affecting sediment deposition and erosion, rates can drastically differ based on measured timescale, with short bursts of activity followed by hiatuses, concentrated in various seasons and ontogenetic stages for particular species. Assumptions of constant velocities within movement paths, left as traces afterward, may not apply in many cases. Arguments about energetic efficiency or optimal foraging based on ichnofossils have often overlooked these and related issues. Single bioturbation rates from short-term experiments in captivity may not be comparable to rates measured at an ecosystem level over a year or generalized across multiple time scales where conditions differ even for the same species. Neoichnological work, with an understanding of lifetime variabilities in bioturbation and their drivers, helps connect ichnology with behavioural biology and movement ecology.
2022
De Baets, Kenneth; Jarochowska, Emilia; Buchwald, Stella Zora; Klug, Christian; Korn, Dieter
Lithology controls ammonoid size distributions Journal Article
In: PALAIOS, vol. 37, iss. 12, pp. 744-754, 2022, ISSN: 0883-1351.
@article{deBaets2022.12.30,
title = {Lithology controls ammonoid size distributions},
author = {De Baets, Kenneth and Jarochowska, Emilia and Buchwald, Stella Zora and Klug, Christian and Korn, Dieter},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2110/palo.2021.063
https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/sepm/palaios/article-pdf/37/12/744/5758729/i1938-5323-37-12-744.pdf},
doi = {10.2110/palo.2021.063},
issn = {0883-1351},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-12-30},
urldate = {2022-12-30},
journal = {PALAIOS},
volume = {37},
issue = {12},
pages = {744-754},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Mulvey, Laura PA; Warnock, Rachel CM; De Baets, Kenneth
Where traditional extinction estimates fall flat: using novel cophylogenetic methods to estimate extinction risk in platyhelminths Journal Article
In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, vol. 289, no. 1981, pp. 20220432, 2022.
@article{doi:10.1098/rspb.2022.0432,
title = {Where traditional extinction estimates fall flat: using novel cophylogenetic methods to estimate extinction risk in platyhelminths},
author = {Laura PA Mulvey and Rachel CM Warnock and De Baets, Kenneth},
url = {https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1098/rspb.2022.0432},
doi = {10.1098/rspb.2022.0432},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-08-31},
urldate = {2022-08-31},
journal = {Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences},
volume = {289},
number = {1981},
pages = {20220432},
abstract = {Today parasites comprise a huge proportion of living biodiversity and play a major role in shaping community structure. Given their ecological significance, parasite extinctions could result in massive cascading effects across ecosystems. It is therefore crucial that we have a way of estimating their extinction risk. Attempts to do this have often relied on information about host extinction risk, without explicitly incorporating information about the parasites. However, assuming an identical risk may be misleading. Here, we apply a novel metric to estimate the cophylogenetic extinction rate, Ec, of parasites with their hosts. This metric incorporates information about the evolutionary history of parasites and hosts that can be estimated using event-based cophylogenetic methods. To explore this metric, we investigated the use of different cophylogenetic methods to inform the Ec rate, based on the analysis of polystome parasites and their anuran hosts. We show using both parsimony- and model-based approaches that different methods can have a large effect on extinction risk estimation. Further, we demonstrate that model-based approaches offer greater potential to provide insights into cophylogenetic history and extinction risk.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Today parasites comprise a huge proportion of living biodiversity and play a major role in shaping community structure. Given their ecological significance, parasite extinctions could result in massive cascading effects across ecosystems. It is therefore crucial that we have a way of estimating their extinction risk. Attempts to do this have often relied on information about host extinction risk, without explicitly incorporating information about the parasites. However, assuming an identical risk may be misleading. Here, we apply a novel metric to estimate the cophylogenetic extinction rate, Ec, of parasites with their hosts. This metric incorporates information about the evolutionary history of parasites and hosts that can be estimated using event-based cophylogenetic methods. To explore this metric, we investigated the use of different cophylogenetic methods to inform the Ec rate, based on the analysis of polystome parasites and their anuran hosts. We show using both parsimony- and model-based approaches that different methods can have a large effect on extinction risk estimation. Further, we demonstrate that model-based approaches offer greater potential to provide insights into cophylogenetic history and extinction risk.
Okamura, Beth; Gruhl, Alexander; De Baets, Kenneth
Evolutionary Transitions of Parasites between Freshwater and Marine Environments Journal Article
In: Integrative and Comparative Biology, vol. 62, no. 2, pp. 345–356, 2022, ISSN: 1540-7063.
@article{deBaets2022,
title = {Evolutionary Transitions of Parasites between Freshwater and Marine Environments},
author = {Beth Okamura and Alexander Gruhl and Kenneth De Baets},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icac050},
doi = {10.1093/icb/icac050},
issn = {1540-7063},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-08-02},
journal = {Integrative and Comparative Biology},
volume = {62},
number = {2},
pages = {345–356},
abstract = {Evolutionary transitions of organisms between environments have long fascinated biologists, but attention has been focused almost exclusively on free-living organisms and challenges to achieve such transitions. This bias requires addressing because parasites are a major component of biodiversity. We address this imbalance by focusing on transitions of parasitic animals between marine and freshwater environments. We highlight parasite traits and processes that may influence transition likelihood (e.g., transmission mode, life cycle, host use), and consider mechanisms and directions of transitions. Evidence for transitions in deep time and at present are described, and transitions in our changing world are considered. We propose that environmental transitions may be facilitated for endoparasites because hosts reduce exposure to physiologically challenging environments and argue that adoption of an endoparasitic lifestyle entails an equivalent transitioning process as organisms switch from living in one environment (e.g., freshwater, seawater, or air) to living symbiotically within hosts. Environmental transitions of parasites have repeatedly resulted in novel forms and diversification, contributing to the tree of life. Recognizing the potential processes underlying present-day and future environmental transitions is crucial in view of our changing world and the current biodiversity crisis.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Evolutionary transitions of organisms between environments have long fascinated biologists, but attention has been focused almost exclusively on free-living organisms and challenges to achieve such transitions. This bias requires addressing because parasites are a major component of biodiversity. We address this imbalance by focusing on transitions of parasitic animals between marine and freshwater environments. We highlight parasite traits and processes that may influence transition likelihood (e.g., transmission mode, life cycle, host use), and consider mechanisms and directions of transitions. Evidence for transitions in deep time and at present are described, and transitions in our changing world are considered. We propose that environmental transitions may be facilitated for endoparasites because hosts reduce exposure to physiologically challenging environments and argue that adoption of an endoparasitic lifestyle entails an equivalent transitioning process as organisms switch from living in one environment (e.g., freshwater, seawater, or air) to living symbiotically within hosts. Environmental transitions of parasites have repeatedly resulted in novel forms and diversification, contributing to the tree of life. Recognizing the potential processes underlying present-day and future environmental transitions is crucial in view of our changing world and the current biodiversity crisis.