Use of new methods to quickly and reliably detect changes in biodiversity

Biodiversity on our planet is changing rapidly. This affects intraspecific variation, species diversity, as well as the diversity of ecosystems and interactions. Because the loss of biodiversity has direct consequences for humans, precise data for monitoring these changes is essential. Such data is already legally binding under several regulations, such as the Federal Nature Conservation Act, the Habitats Directive, the Water Framework Directive, and the Marine Conservation Strategy. A general problem is that current surveys are too infrequent and often only conducted for specific species groups.

Genetic surveys via DNA barcoding or DNA metabarcoding of organisms, or even non-invasively via environmental DNA, offer new approaches for the systematic recording of biodiversity across the entire tree of life.

Concept: DNA-based fly water assessment

Our research group develops DNA-based monitoring methods for aquatic and terrestrial organisms and tests their potential for official use.
 

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Publications:

Blackman, R.C., Mächler, E., Altermatt, F., Arnold, A., Beja, P., Boets, P., Egeter, B., Elbrecht, V., Filipe, A.F., Jones, J.I., Macher, J.N., Majaneva, M., Martins, F.M.S., Múrria, C., Meissner, K., Pawlowski, J., Schmidt Yáñez, P.L., Zizka, V.M.A., Leese, F., Price, B., Deiner, K., 2019. Advancing the use of molecular methods for routine freshwater macroinvertebrate biomonitoring – the need for calibration experiments. MBMG 3, e34735. https://doi.org/10.3897/mbmg.3.34735

Zizka, V.M.A., Geiger, M.F., Leese, F., 2020. DNA metabarcoding of stream invertebrates reveals spatio-temporal variation but consistent status class assessments in a natural and urban river. Ecological Indicators 115, 106383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106383

Cordier, T., Alonso‐Sáez, L., Apothéloz‐Perret‐Gentil, L., Aylagas, E., Bohan, D.A., Bouchez, A., Chariton, A., Creer, S., Frühe, L., Keck, F., Keeley, N., Laroche, O., Leese, F., Pochon, X., Stoeck, T., Pawlowski, J., Lanzén, A., 2020. Ecosystems monitoring powered by environmental genomics: a review of current strategies with an implementation roadmap. Molecular Ecology n/a. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.15472

Leese, F., Bouchez, A., Abarenkov, K., Altermatt, F., Borja, Á., Bruce, K., Ekrem, T., Čiampor, F., Čiamporová-Zaťovičová, Z., Costa, F.O., Duarte, S., Elbrecht, V., Fontaneto, D., Franc, A., Geiger, M.F., Hering, D., Kahlert, M., Kalamujić Stroil, B., Kelly, M., Keskin, E., Liska, I., Mergen, P., Meissner, K., Pawlowski, J., Penev, L., Reyjol, Y., Rotter, A., Steinke, D., van der Wal, B., Vitecek, S., Zimmermann, J., Weigand, A.M., 2018. Why We Need Sustainable Networks Bridging Countries, Disciplines, Cultures and Generations for Aquatic Biomonitoring 2.0: A Perspective Derived From the DNAqua-Net COST Action, in: Next Generation Biomonitoring: Part 1, Advances in Ecological Research. pp. 63–99.

Leese, F., Hering, D., Wägele, J.-W., 2017. Potenzial genetischer Methoden für das Biomonitoring der Wasserrahmenrichtlinie. WasserWirtschaft 7–8, 49–53.

Milošević, D., Milosavljević, A., Predić, B., Medeiros, A.S., Savić-Zdravković, D., Stojković Piperac, M., Kostić, T., Spasić, F., Leese, F., 2020. Application of deep learning in aquatic bioassessment: Towards automated identification of non-biting midges. Sci. Total Environ. 711, 135160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135160

Pawlowski, J., Kelly-Quinn, M., Altermatt, F., Apotheloz-Perret-Gentil, L., Beja, P., Boggero, A., Borja, A., Bouchez, A., Cordier, T., Domaizon, I., Feio, MJ, Filipe, AF, Fornaroli, R., Graf, W., Herder, J., van der Hoorn, B., Iwan Jones, J., Sagova-Mareckova, M., Moritz, C., Barquin, J., Piggott, JJ, Pinna, M., Rimet, F., Rinkevich, B., Sousa-Santos, C., Specchia, V., Trobajo, R., Vasselon, V., Vitecek, S., Zimmerman, J., Weigand, A., Leese, F., Kahlert, M., 2018. The future of biotic indices in the ecogenomic era: Integrating (e)DNA metabarcoding in biological assessment of aquatic ecosystems. Sci Total Environ 637-638, 1295-1310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.002

Zizka, VMA, Geiger, MF, Leese, F., 2020. DNA metabarcoding of stream invertebrates reveals spatio-temporal variation but consistent status class assessments in a natural and urban river. Ecological Indicators 115, 106383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106383