DNA metabarcoding enables the identification of thousands of individuals, often down to species level, by sequencing a small, standardised gene fragment. Unlike DNA barcoding, this is done with the entire species community of a habitat to enable a faster assessment of species diversity.
Our research projects are focussed on
- Biomonitoring of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
- Species community structure and ecosystem change
- Development of DNA metabarcoding methods
- Bioinformatics
- Large scale laboratory workflows
- Nutrition and gut content analyses
- Host-parasite interactions
- Mitogenomics and 'PCR-free' methods
We are always looking for talented and ambitious students to work with us on existing research projects.
Contact person

- Head of metabarcoding section
- Deputy ombudsperson for good scientific practice
Phone: +49 228 9122 353
E-Mail: s.bourlat@leibniz-lib.de
Projects
Unknown Germany
Management: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof
BGE - Biodiversity Genomics Europe
Management: Dr. habil. Astrid Böhne
BALIN - Insect protection at the railway station by reducing light pollution
Management: Prof. Dr. Christoph Scherber
Publications
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2025/1
Freshwater mollusc community screening - Classical and eDNA monitoring methods to detect rare, indicator and invasive species
Science of the Total Environment, 958
2025/1
Maximizing Identification Precision of Hymenoptera and Brachycera (Diptera) With a Non‐Destructive Metabarcoding Approach
Ecology and Evolution, 1, 15
2025/1
The clockwork of insect activity: Advancing ecological understanding through automation
Journal of Animal Ecology
2024/12
The Field Automatic Insect Recognition‐Device—A Non‐Lethal Semi‐Automatic Malaise Trap for Insect Biodiversity Monitoring: Proof of Concept
Ecology and Evolution, 12, 14
2024/9
Der Einfluss von Bewirtschaftung und organischer Düngung auf Bodenarthropoden in ackerbaulich genutzten Böden
0028-0615, 9-10, 99
2024/8
BGE Milestone MS 2.4b
2024/7
Synchronised monitoring of plant and insect diversity: a case study using automated Malaise traps and DNA-based methods
Biodiversity Data Journal, 12
2024/3
The FAIR-Device-a non-lethal and generalist semi-automatic Malaise trap for insect biodiversity monitoring: Proof of concept
bioRxiv
2024/2
Arthropod diversity in the alpine tundra using metabarcoding: Spatial and temporal differences in alpha‐ and beta‐diversity
Ecology and Evolution, 2, 14
2024/2
Development of an automated Malaise trap multisampler
2024/2
Non-destructive DNA extraction and metabarcoding of arthropod bulk samples: a step-by-step protocol
2023/11
Metabarcoding dietary analysis in the insectivorous bat Nyctalus leisleri and implications for conservation
Biodiversity Data Journal, 11
2023/11
Monitoring der Biodiversität flugaktiver Insekten in NRW
Nat NRW, 2023, 3
2023/11
Abundance estimation with DNA metabarcoding–recent advancements for terrestrial arthropods
Metabarcoding and Metagenomics, 7
2023/10
A red listing gap analysis of molluscs and crustaceans in Northern Europe: What has happened in the last 10 years?
Biological conservation, 286
2023/7
Future of DNA-based insect monitoring
Trends in Genetics, 7, 39
2023/5
BGE Milestone MS2.4a
2025
2024
2023
Employees
Dr. Sarah Bourlat
zbm Metabarcoding ScientistPhone: +49 228 9122 353
E-mail: s.bourlat@leibniz-lib.deDr. Carolina Corrales Duque
zbm Metabarcoding ScientistPhone: +49 228 9122 420
E-mail: c.corrales@leibniz-lib.deDr. Ameli Kirse
zbm Metabarcoding Postdoctoral researcherPhone: +49 228 9122-453
E-mail: a.kirse@leibniz-lib.de