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
Dr. Sarah Bourlat
- Head of metabarcoding section
- Deputy ombudsperson for good scientific practice
Phone: +49 228 9122 353
E-Mail: s.bourlat@leibniz-lib.de
Projects
BGE - Biodiversity Genomics Europe
Management: Dr. habil. Astrid Böhne
/leibniz-lib.de/fileadmin/user_upload/home/Bilder/LIB/Projekte/BALIN.jpg%3F1724069004 "Bahngleis")
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
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
2022/12
BGE Deliverable D4.2: Metadata standards
2022/11
Repeated subsamples during DNA extraction reveal increased diversity estimates in DNA metabarcoding of Malaise traps
Ecology and Evolution, 11, 12
2022/8
Comparison of destructive and nondestructive DNA extraction methods for the metabarcoding of arthropod bulk samples
Molecular ecology resources, 1, 23
2022/8
Data Flows for Metabarcoding-based Monitoring in the Project Automated Multisensor Stations for Monitoring of Biodiversity
Biodiversity Information Science and Standards, 6
2022/3
Towards a multisensor station for automated biodiversity monitoring
Basic and applied ecology, 59
2022/1
Recommendations for tissue homogenisation and extraction in DNA metabarcoding of Malaise trap samples
2021/12
A practical guide to DNA-based methods for biodiversity assessment
2021/10
Pooling size sorted Malaise trap fractions to maximize taxon recovery with metabarcoding
PeerJ, 9
2021/7
Diversity of Insects in Nature protected Areas (DINA): an interdisciplinary German research project
Biodiversity and conservation, 8-9, 30
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
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