A5025005823- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Plant and animal studies
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
- Actinomycetales infections and treatment
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Ecosystem dynamics and resilience
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Leech Biology and Applications
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Marine animal studies overview
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change
2022-2025
Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig
2020-2024
University of Göttingen
2023
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research
2023
Leipzig University
2023
National Student Clearinghouse Research Center
2023
Leibniz Association
2023
University of Würzburg
2023
University of Duisburg-Essen
2017-2021
Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt/M
2021
Abstract Species occurrence records from online databases are an indispensable resource in ecological, biogeographical and palaeontological research. However, issues with data quality, especially incorrect geo‐referencing or dating, can diminish their usefulness. Manual cleaning is time‐consuming, error prone, difficult to reproduce limited known geographical areas taxonomic groups, making it impractical for datasets thousands millions of records. Here, we present CoordinateCleaner , r...
Abstract DNA metabarcoding of freshwater communities typically relies on PCR amplification a fragment the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene with degenerate primers. The advantage COI is its taxonomic resolution and availability an extensive reference database. However, when universal primers are used environmental (eDNA) isolated from water, benthic invertebrate read OTU numbers “watered down,” that is, under represented, compared to whole specimen “bulk samples” due greater...
Metabarcoding is a powerful, increasingly popular tool for biodiversity assessment, but it still suffers from some drawbacks (specimen destruction, separation, and size sorting). In the present study, we tested non-destructive protocol that excludes any sample sorting, where ethanol used preserving filtered DNA extracted filter subsequent metabarcoding. When on macroinvertebrate mock communities, method was widely successful unable to reliably detect mollusc taxa. Three different protocols...
Chironomids, or non-biting midges, often dominate stream invertebrate communities in terms of biomass, abundance, and species richness play an important role riverine food webs. Despite these clear facts, the insect family Chironomidae is treated as a single ecological studies bioassessments given difficulty to determine specimens further. We investigated stressor responses chironomid operational taxonomic units (OTUs) three globally stressors (increased salinity, fine sediment reduced water...
Over the last decade, steady advancements have been made in use of DNA-based methods for detection species a wide range ecosystems. This progress has culminated molecular monitoring being employed several enforceable management purposes endangered, invasive, and illegally harvested worldwide. However, routine application to monitor whole communities (typically metabarcoding approach) order assess status ecosystems continues be limited. In aquatic ecosystems, limited is particularly true...
Metabarcoding is increasingly used to assess species diversity by high-throughput sequencing where millions of sequences can be generated in parallel and multiple samples analysed one run. Generating amplified fragments with a unique sequence identifier ('tag') for each sample crucial, as it allows assigning the original samples. The tagging through so-called fusion primers fast cheap alternative commercially produced ligation-based kits. However, little known about potential bias...
DNA metabarcoding is routinely used for biodiversity assessment, in particular targeting highly diverse groups which limited taxonomic expertise available. Various protocols are currently use, although standardization key to its application large-scale monitoring. of arthropod bulk samples can be conducted either destructively from sample tissue, or nondestructively fixative lysis buffer. Nondestructive methods desirable the preservation integrity but have yet experimentally evaluated...
Molecular methods are currently some of the best-suited technologies for implementation in insect monitoring. However, field is developing rapidly and lacks agreement on methodology or community standards. To apply DNA-based large-scale monitoring, to gain insight across commensurate data, we need easy-to-implement standards that improve data comparability. Here, provide three recommendations how harmonize efforts biodiversity assessment monitoring via metabarcoding: (i) should adopt use...
Genetic diversity is the most basal level of biodiversity and determines evolutionary capacity species to adapt changing environments, yet it typically neglected in routine biomonitoring stressor impact assessment. For a comprehensive analysis impacts on genetic diversity, necessary assess variants simultaneously many individuals species. Such an assessment not as straightforward usually limited one or few focal However, nowadays can be assessed by analysing thousands community with DNA...
Small and rare specimens can remain undetected when metabarcoding is applied on bulk samples with a high specimen size heterogeneity. This especially critical for Malaise trap samples, where most of the biodiversity contributed by small taxa low biomass. The separation in different fractions downstream analysis one possibility to increase detection taxa. However, experiments systematically testing sorting approaches subsequent proportional pooling are lacking, but would provide important...
Biodiversity is declining at alarming rates worldwide and large-scale monitoring urgently needed to understand changes their drivers. While classical taxonomic identification of species time labour intensive, the combination with DNA-based methods could upscale activities achieve larger spatial coverage increased sampling effort. However, challenges remain for when number individuals per and/or biomass estimates are required. Several methodological advancements exist improve potential DNA...
Abstract Insect declines and biodiversity loss have attracted much attention in recent years, but lack of comprehensive data, conflicting interests among stakeholders insufficient policy guidance hinder progress preserving biodiversity. The project DINA (Diversity Insects Nature protected Areas) investigates insect communities 21 nature reserves Germany. All selected conservation sites border arable land, with agricultural practices assumed to influence populations. We taught citizen...
Abstract In recent years, the decline of insect biodiversity and imminent loss provided ecosystem functions services has received public attention raised demand for political action. The complex, multi-causal contributors to require a broad interdisciplinary cross-sectoral approach that addresses ecological social aspects find sustainable solutions. project Diversity Insects in Nature protected Areas (DINA) assesses communities 21 nature reserves Germany, considers interactions with plant...
Abstract Understanding insect behaviour and its underlying drivers is vital for interpreting changes in local biodiversity predicting future trends. Conventional traps are typically limited to assess the composition of communities over longer time periods provide only insights into effects abiotic factors, such as light on species activity. Achieving finer temporal resolution labour‐intensive or possible under laboratory conditions. Here, we demonstrate that time‐controlled sampling using an...
Abstract Freshwater ponds host diverse arthropod communities, but conservation frameworks are scarce. Heterogeneous pond mosaics of various sizes and successional stages can develop during raw material extraction in mining sites, acting as refugia for a variety species. Here, we investigate diversity status across lakes sites; analyze how water body size, age, vegetation cover affect patterns; discuss results contribute to management actions schemes. Using environmental DNA metabarcoding,...
Abstract Currently, knowledge of arthropod diversity and distributions in terrestrial habitats is limited due to a lack taxonomists consistent monitoring, hindering insect conservation efforts. To address this, we conducted an extensive country‐wide study Germany using year‐long Malaise trap monitoring effort supported by citizen scientists. Our provides benchmark species occurrence 21 German nature‐protected areas. Metabarcoding methods revealed unexpectedly high small‐scale largely...
We present a unique data set of trait information for 586 insect families in Central Europe, covering the largest known part described species (over 34,000 species). Life history and major functional traits were evaluated with fuzzy coding weighted according to number Germany. An overall analysis German fauna is given exemplarily applied metabarcoding results malaise trap samples. Due high taxonomic diversity insects, further developments refinements be included will an ongoing process...
Abstract Human-induced biodiversity loss and changes in community composition are major challenges of the present time, urgently calling for comprehensive biomonitoring approaches to understand system dynamics inform policy-making. In this regard, molecular methods increasingly applied. They provide tools fast high-resolution assessments can also focus on population or functional diversity. If samples stored under appropriate conditions, will enable analysis DNA, but RNA proteins from tissue...
With increased application of DNA metabarcoding in biodiversity assessment, various laboratory protocols have been optimized, and their further evaluation is subject current research. Homogenization bulk samples subsequent extraction from a subsample destructed tissue common first stage the process. This can either be conducted using sample material soaked storage fixative, e.g., ethanol (here referred to as "wet" treatment) or dried individuals ("dry"). However, it remains uncertain if...
Abstract DNA metabarcoding of freshwater communities typically relies on PCR amplification a fragment the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COI) gene with degenerate primers. The advantage COI is its taxonomic resolution and availability an extensive reference database. However, when universal primers are used environmental (eDNA) isolated from stream water, macroinvertebrate read OTU numbers “watered down”, i.e. diluted, compared to whole specimen ‘bulk samples’ due greater...
Abstract Reliable biodiversity data are crucial for environmental research and management. Unfortunately, paucity prevails many regions organismal groups such as aquatic invertebrates. High-throughput DNA-based identification, in particular DNA metabarcoding, has accelerated generation. However, the process of specimens usually destroyed, precluding later specimen-based analyses. Metabarcoding released into preservative ethanol been proposed a non-destructive alternative, but...
Due to increasing human transformation of virtually all habitats on Earth, setting global priorities for conservation is essential. The emerging disciplines macroecology and macroevolution (MEE) can provide a perspective information such prioritization but remain relatively separated from prioritization, partly because MEE researchers are unaware the requirements effective existing approaches implementing these. Indeed, at large scale scattered across literature. Here, we systematically...