Donna Talluto
Université de Namur (University of Namur), Biologie, Faculty Member
As part of the KARAG project (jointly organized by University of Namur, University of Mons and Royal Observatory of Belgium with the collaboration of University of Luxembourg and finance by FNRS), the aim of this thesis was to study the... more
As part of the KARAG project (jointly organized by University of Namur, University of Mons and Royal Observatory of Belgium with the collaboration of University of Luxembourg and finance by FNRS), the aim of this thesis was to study the biospeology of the Lomme karstic system of the givetian aquifer in Rochefort. The biological parameters that may influence the richness and diversity of the aquatic macroinvertebrates of this habitat were characterized.
Different samplings were taken to characterize the condition of the environment and to identify fauna therein. The Lomme in surface were also sampled to compare the faunal composition with the one of the Lomme subterranean. The identification of these organisms gives an idea of the proportion of species belonging to the strictly underground environment.
The study of sediment shows a difference in size and proportion of organic matter between the surface and the subsurface environment. The underground stations are characterized by a finer particle size and a greater importance of organic matter. The conductivity is also greater in underground and in the resurgence.
In this system, karst flows are very fast and convective. So the water doesn’t have time to get in equilibrium with the underground environment. The fauna found in this system doesn’t seem equilibrated with the underground environment but simply washed away.
Species richness is lower in the underground environment compared to the surface environment. Macroinvertebates sampled in those two environments belong to the same families. However there are still taxa specific to caves such as Oligochaetes, Platyhelminthes and Asellus cavaticus. Data analysis highlights the different distributions of the substrates. Links have been established between the distribution of macroinvertebrates, grain size and the proportion of organic matter in sediments from the study of biological traits.
Different samplings were taken to characterize the condition of the environment and to identify fauna therein. The Lomme in surface were also sampled to compare the faunal composition with the one of the Lomme subterranean. The identification of these organisms gives an idea of the proportion of species belonging to the strictly underground environment.
The study of sediment shows a difference in size and proportion of organic matter between the surface and the subsurface environment. The underground stations are characterized by a finer particle size and a greater importance of organic matter. The conductivity is also greater in underground and in the resurgence.
In this system, karst flows are very fast and convective. So the water doesn’t have time to get in equilibrium with the underground environment. The fauna found in this system doesn’t seem equilibrated with the underground environment but simply washed away.
Species richness is lower in the underground environment compared to the surface environment. Macroinvertebates sampled in those two environments belong to the same families. However there are still taxa specific to caves such as Oligochaetes, Platyhelminthes and Asellus cavaticus. Data analysis highlights the different distributions of the substrates. Links have been established between the distribution of macroinvertebrates, grain size and the proportion of organic matter in sediments from the study of biological traits.
Research Interests:
As part of the KARAG project (jointly organized by University of Namur, University of Mons and Royal Observatory of Belgium with the collaboration of University of Luxembourg and finance by FNRS), the aim of this thesis was to study the... more
As part of the KARAG project (jointly organized by University of Namur, University of Mons and Royal Observatory of Belgium with the collaboration of University of Luxembourg and finance by FNRS), the aim of this thesis was to study the biospeology of the Lomme karstic system of the givetian aquifer in Rochefort. The biological parameters that may influence the richness and diversity of the aquatic macroinvertebrates of this habitat were characterized.
Different samplings were taken to characterize the condition of the environment and to identify fauna therein. The Lomme in surface were also sampled to compare the faunal composition with the one of the Lomme subterranean. The identification of these organisms gives an idea of the proportion of species belonging to the strictly underground environment.
The study of sediment shows a difference in size and proportion of organic matter between the surface and the subsurface environment. The underground stations are characterized by a finer particle size and a greater importance of organic matter. The conductivity is also greater in underground and in the resurgence.
In this system, karst flows are very fast and convective. So the water doesn’t have time to get in equilibrium with the underground environment. The fauna found in this system doesn’t seem equilibrated with the underground environment but simply washed away.
Species richness is lower in the underground environment compared to the surface environment. Macroinvertebates sampled in those two environments belong to the same families. However there are still taxa specific to caves such as Oligochaetes, Platyhelminthes and Asellus cavaticus. Data analysis highlights the different distributions of the substrates. Links have been established between the distribution of macroinvertebrates, grain size and the proportion of organic matter in sediments from the study of biological traits.
Different samplings were taken to characterize the condition of the environment and to identify fauna therein. The Lomme in surface were also sampled to compare the faunal composition with the one of the Lomme subterranean. The identification of these organisms gives an idea of the proportion of species belonging to the strictly underground environment.
The study of sediment shows a difference in size and proportion of organic matter between the surface and the subsurface environment. The underground stations are characterized by a finer particle size and a greater importance of organic matter. The conductivity is also greater in underground and in the resurgence.
In this system, karst flows are very fast and convective. So the water doesn’t have time to get in equilibrium with the underground environment. The fauna found in this system doesn’t seem equilibrated with the underground environment but simply washed away.
Species richness is lower in the underground environment compared to the surface environment. Macroinvertebates sampled in those two environments belong to the same families. However there are still taxa specific to caves such as Oligochaetes, Platyhelminthes and Asellus cavaticus. Data analysis highlights the different distributions of the substrates. Links have been established between the distribution of macroinvertebrates, grain size and the proportion of organic matter in sediments from the study of biological traits.
Research Interests:
As part of the KARAG project (jointly organized by University of Namur, University of Mons and Royal Observatory of Belgium with the collaboration of University of Luxembourg and finance by FNRS), the aim of this thesis was to study the... more
As part of the KARAG project (jointly organized by University of Namur, University of Mons and Royal Observatory of Belgium with the collaboration of University of Luxembourg and finance by FNRS), the aim of this thesis was to study the biospeology of the Lomme karstic system of the givetian aquifer in Rochefort. The biological parameters that may influence the richness and diversity of the aquatic macroinvertebrates of this habitat were characterized.
Different samplings were taken to characterize the condition of the environment and to identify fauna therein. The Lomme in surface were also sampled to compare the faunal composition with the one of the Lomme subterranean. The identification of these organisms gives an idea of the proportion of species belonging to the strictly underground environment.
The study of sediment shows a difference in size and proportion of organic matter between the surface and the subsurface environment. The underground stations are characterized by a finer particle size and a greater importance of organic matter. The conductivity is also greater in underground and in the resurgence.
In this system, karst flows are very fast and convective. So the water doesn’t have time to get in equilibrium with the underground environment. The fauna found in this system doesn’t seem equilibrated with the underground environment but simply washed away.
Species richness is lower in the underground environment compared to the surface environment. Macroinvertebates sampled in those two environments belong to the same families. However there are still taxa specific to caves such as Oligochaetes, Platyhelminthes and Asellus cavaticus. Data analysis highlights the different distributions of the substrates. Links have been established between the distribution of macroinvertebrates, grain size and the proportion of organic matter in sediments from the study of biological traits.
Different samplings were taken to characterize the condition of the environment and to identify fauna therein. The Lomme in surface were also sampled to compare the faunal composition with the one of the Lomme subterranean. The identification of these organisms gives an idea of the proportion of species belonging to the strictly underground environment.
The study of sediment shows a difference in size and proportion of organic matter between the surface and the subsurface environment. The underground stations are characterized by a finer particle size and a greater importance of organic matter. The conductivity is also greater in underground and in the resurgence.
In this system, karst flows are very fast and convective. So the water doesn’t have time to get in equilibrium with the underground environment. The fauna found in this system doesn’t seem equilibrated with the underground environment but simply washed away.
Species richness is lower in the underground environment compared to the surface environment. Macroinvertebates sampled in those two environments belong to the same families. However there are still taxa specific to caves such as Oligochaetes, Platyhelminthes and Asellus cavaticus. Data analysis highlights the different distributions of the substrates. Links have been established between the distribution of macroinvertebrates, grain size and the proportion of organic matter in sediments from the study of biological traits.
Research Interests:
Chronic oil pollution contributes to destroying marine ecosystems. To account for the impact of chronic disturbances, seabirds are studied as a symbol because they are the most visible and can give an indication on the state of the... more
Chronic oil pollution contributes to destroying marine ecosystems. To account for the impact of chronic disturbances, seabirds are studied as a symbol because they are the most visible and can give an indication on the state of the environment. The impact of oil on seabirds are firstly, the loss of feathers permeability causing hypothermia and secondly, poisoning by ingestion of toxic compounds that attack the liver, kidneys, lungs, intestines and other internal organs. Those most at risk are pelagic birds that spend a lot of time to float on the water surface. It is estimated that the number of found dead birds due to chronic pollution over a year is equivalent to the number of dead birds following a major oil spill. Chronic pollution results from illegal and intentional discharges of heavy fuel oil into the sea.
Research Interests:
La théorie de l’évolution ne prend pas en considération les hétérochronies du développement. Dans ce rapport, nous tenterons donc d’éclaircir ce concept et nous nous attarderons sur le processus de néoténie qui a longtemps retenu... more
La théorie de l’évolution ne prend pas en considération les hétérochronies du développement. Dans ce rapport, nous tenterons donc d’éclaircir ce concept et nous nous attarderons sur le processus de néoténie qui a longtemps retenu l’attention des scientifiques notamment avec le cas de l’axolotl.
Chez l’Homme, les hétérochronies supposées seraient une hypermorphose du développement des neurones allongeant la phase embryonnaire, une hypomorphose (néoténie) de la morphologie du crâne et plusieurs post-déplacements de caractères. Nous tenterons d’illustrer au mieux ces hypothèses du développement. En effet, ces exemples sont à considérer comme des hypothèses car les analyses hétérochroniques concernant l’Homme sont souvent controversées aussi bien d’un point de vue théorique que pratique. Nous verrons donc à travers quelques exemples en quoi l’Homme pourrait être un « singe néoténien » et quels sont les modifications hétérochroniques qu’il a subies et nous analyserons les différentes théories controversées à ce sujet.
Chez l’Homme, les hétérochronies supposées seraient une hypermorphose du développement des neurones allongeant la phase embryonnaire, une hypomorphose (néoténie) de la morphologie du crâne et plusieurs post-déplacements de caractères. Nous tenterons d’illustrer au mieux ces hypothèses du développement. En effet, ces exemples sont à considérer comme des hypothèses car les analyses hétérochroniques concernant l’Homme sont souvent controversées aussi bien d’un point de vue théorique que pratique. Nous verrons donc à travers quelques exemples en quoi l’Homme pourrait être un « singe néoténien » et quels sont les modifications hétérochroniques qu’il a subies et nous analyserons les différentes théories controversées à ce sujet.