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Performance monitoring is a key cognitive function, allowing to detect mistakes and adapt future behaviour. Post-decisional neural signals have been identified that are sensitive to decision accuracy, decision confidence and subsequent adaptation. Here, we review recent work that supports an understanding of late error/confidence signals in terms of the computational process of post-decisional evidence accumulation. We argue that the error positivity, a positive-going centro-parietal potential measured through scalp electrophysiology, reflects the post-decisional evidence accumulation process itself, which follows a boundary crossing event corresponding to initial decision commitment. This proposal provides a powerful explanation for both the morphological characteristics of the signal and its relation to various expressions of performance monitoring. Moreover, it suggests that the error positivity –a signal with thus far unique properties in cognitive neuroscience – can be leveraged to furnish key new insights into the inputs to, adaptation, and sequelae of the post-decisional accumulation process.

The current study reports a pre-registered investigation into the interrelations between mathematics anxiety, metacognition and mathematical performance. Although this question has already received some attention in previous work, reliance on self-report measures of metacognition has hindered its interpretation. Here, a novel experimental mathematical task was used in which participants solved mathematical assignments of varying difficulty, and expressed their level of confidence in the accuracy of their decision both prospectively and retrospectively. Mathematics anxiety was measured using a standardized questionnaire. Both prospective and retrospective confidence judgments predicted unique variation in accuracy, however, the explanatory effect of prospective confidence disappeared after taking task difficulty into account. This suggests that prospective, but not retrospective, confidence is largely based on superficial cues indicative of performance. Results of a multiple regression analysis indicated that individual differences in mathematics anxiety were negatively related to the overall level of confidence (both prospectively and retrospectively), and positively related to metacognitive efficiency (only prospectively). Having insight in these interrelationships is important in the context of remediating mathematics anxiety, which might in turn be useful with regard to the worldwide need for more workers with degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM).

We monitored the spider and ground beetle assemblages of old dune and newly created dune-like habitats in the Ijzer estuary by means of four years of continuous pitfall sampling (2001-2004). The new sites built with dune sand were rapidly colonised by good dispersing species. These populations thrived so well during the first years after colonisation that they acted as sources, for which the old dune habitats were the sinks. That temporal collateral effect of nature restoration did not seem to cause persisting damage in the old dune habitats once the source populations had disappeared.Because general stochastic environmental fluctuations, like cold winters, seem to cause important year-to-year variation in population size of a number of species, it is advisable to sample developing and restoring habitats at the same time as their targets.The newly created habitats appeared to offer opportunities to enlarge the population size of several species of dune living ground beetles and, to a lesser degree, spiders. A multitude of more specialized dune species could not (as yet?) install viable new populations. A continuing sampling effort will be required to monitor the development, so that additional nature restoration or management measures can be taken when bio-indicated to be needed.

Populations of ground beetles and spiders are continuously monitored since 1990 in the dunes and salt marshes of the river Ijzer estuary (Belgium), where a recent nature restoration project took place within the framework of LIFE. Immediately after restoration measures, continuous (year cycle) pitfall and window trapping was performed during several years in restored or newly developed salt marsh and dune slack habitats and compared to target ('old' salt marsh) habitats. In this paper, we focus on ground beetle assemblages and species quality from these samplings, based on some 40,000 beetles identified to 96 species. Results show several beetles new to the study area as well as a marked increase of several target species with high conservation interest (Red-list species). However, many of these species could be rapidly lost again unless natural dynamic processes are kept ongoing. Historical beetle data show that many species that disappeared from the area during the past century have not yet been able to recolonise. This is especially true for salt marsh species and possibly due to dispersal limitation. Many dune slack species re-appeared but did not establish viable populations. Moreover, several ground beetle species indicate increased sand instead of silt deposits in new and old salt marshes. Further invertebrate monitoring therefore is a prerequisite for a well-founded long-term evaluation of the executed nature development measures. Such monitoring will be of much interest, both for an evidence-based nature conservation management, for fundamental ecological research, but also as a possible early warning system for the need of additional management measures in the future.

In order to evaluate recent nature development measures, ground beetles and spiders were studied in the river IJzer estuary (Belgium), an area that has been studied for these invertebrates without interruption since 1989. Starting immediately after restoration measures, five intensive short-term pitfall trapping campaigns were performed in 2001 till 2003 along nine transects covering the entire nature reserve. About 25.000 ground beetles and spiders were identified from more than 200 species. Assemblages, derived from these sampling campaigns, are compared between old and new habitats and sites and show quick species responses in the first years after the nature restoration measures. We observe several beetles and spiders new to the study area as well as a marked increase within the area of several target species with high conservation interest (Red data book species). However, beetle and spider results also suggest that additional management measures will probably be necessary for a further successful development of the nature restoration area. These mainly concern problems related to the maintenance of early successional dynamic stages of great biological value as well as those related to recently observed increased sand deposits in new and old salt marshes. Further invertebrate monitoring, including population genetics, therefore is a pre-requisite for a well-founded long-term evaluation of the performed nature development measures. Such monitoring will be of much interest, both for an evidence based nature conservation management and for fundamental ecological research.

Since 1990, populations of ground beetles and spiders are continuously monitored in the coastal dune and saltmarsh habitats of the Yser Estuary (Nieuwpoort), within the context of a long-term study on invertebrate diversity, population dynamics and ecological and genetic effects of habitat fragmentation. By now, we know in detail the faunal composition of practically all available habitats in the study area. This is an ideal framework to monitor the effects of the nature development activities that started in 2001 in the area. Results of five large sampling campaigns in 2001-2003 (more than 25.000 carabid beetles and spiders, 218 species) show a number of new ground beetle and spider species and assemblages, but warrant that many of these could be rapidly lost again.

The ladybird Platynaspis luteorubra (GOEZE) was found at three locations on the motorway verges (9 sits) along the ring-road of Brussels. In Diegem-Zaventem, Groot-Bijgaarden and Machelen adults were collected with white pitfall traps. P. luteorubra preferred short grassland vegetation mowed twice a year and its occurrence and abundance correlated significantly with the presece and nest-density of the and Lasius niger whitch is known as one of its preferred hosts. This myrmecophilic ladybird, classified as a rare coccinellid in Belgium, is probably more common than assumed until now and should be searched for in similar habitats along other motorways.

Dollchopodid flies make up an important component of invertebrate faunas in a variety of wetland types. A total of 260 species has been recorded from Flanders, 154 [60%] of which occur in the coastal region. In this ecodistrict, three species have become extinct and approximately another 70 are rare or listed as Flemish red list species. In the coastal dunes, especially humid habitats such as dune slacks and shrub vegetations are characterized by a rich dolichopodid fauna. In mobile and grey dunes, species diversity is much lower. Approximately 13% of the dune-inhabiting species has a red list status. Salt marshes also feature a diverse, typical and even more threatened fauna, with up to 43% of the fauna consisting of red list species. Slankpootvliegen zijn heel abundant in allerlei vochtige biotopen. Van de 260 soorten die tot nu toe in Vlaanderen werden aangetroffen, zijn 154 soorten [60 %] gekend van de kuststreek. Hiervan zijn drie soorten reeds uitgestorven en is een 70-tal soorten ofwel zeldzaam ofwel opgenomen in de rode lijst van slankpootvliegen van Vlaanderen. In de duinen is de rijkste fauna te vinden in vochtige habitats zoals duinpannen en mature duinstruwelen. In de zeereep en in duingraslanden daarentegen komen slechts weinig soorten voor. Ongeveer 13% van de typische duinsoorten is opgenomen in de hogergenoemde rode lijst. Ook schorren herbergen een heel soortenrijke en specifieke slankpootvliegenfauna met maar liefst 43% rode lijst-soorten.

In dit project wil men een bruikbaar systeem ontwikkelen waarbij historisch-ecologische en recente habitatkarakterisatie gecombineerd wordt met conservatiegenetisch onderzoek op enkele ongewervelde modelsoorten, teneinde concrete beleidsadviezen te kunnen verstrekken binnen de context van habitatfragmentatie in Vlaamse bossen. Met dit project worden voor twee verwante bosbewonende doelsoorten, Carabus auronitens en Carabus problematicus, 1) een databank opgesteld met alle informatie voor Vlaanderen, aangevuld met relevante informatie voor het volledige (Europese) areaal; 2) het relatieve belang van recente en historische ecologische variabelen ingeschat door de habitatten van beide soorten gedetailleerd te beschrijven in ruimte en tijd; 3) een niet-destructieve methode ontwikkeld voor de studie van genetische diversiteit en differentiatie; 4) de gevolgen van fragementatie conservatiegenetisch onderzocht door middel van krachtige merkers

We introduce an initiative to assess and compare landscape changes related to human activities on a global scale, using a single group of invertebrates. The GLOBENET programme uses common field methodology (pitfall trapping), to appraise assemblages of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in visually-similar land-mosaics (urban-rural gradients). Carabids were selected as the focal taxon as they are sufficiently varied (both taxonomically and ecologically), abundant and sensitive to the environment. However, work on other taxa is comparable with the GLOBENET framework. The continuum of decreasing human pressure from city centres into the surrounding countryside was selected to represent human-caused disturbance for this initial stage of GLOBENET because these gradients can be found virtually all over the world. Through the broad-scale assessment envisioned in the GLOBENET programme, we seek to separate general, repeated effects on biodiversity from those that depend on local environments or particular biotic assemblages. Based on this understanding we aim to develop simple tools and protocols for assessing ecological effects of human-caused landscape changes, which could help to sustainably manage landscapes for biodiversity and for human requirements. For instance, the response of different functional groups of carabids to these landscape changes may help guide management practices. Further GLOBENET developments and information are available at our website: http://www.helsinki.fi/science/globenet/