DINA

As part of a collaborative research project on insect abundance (https://www.dina-insektenforschung.de), we are analyzing seasonal variation of insects with plant traces on their body along a gradient from conservation areas to agricultural landscapes. Using metabarcoding methods, we analyze plant traces in malaise bottles to determine which plants are used by insects at which times of the year and to what extent agricultural activities near nature reserves influence insects in the protected areas. The analyses, in cooperation with various partners, such as the Entomological Association Krefeld (EVKK), the Zoological Research Museum Alexander König (ZFMK) in Bonn, the University of Landau, TIEM, NABU as project coordinator with many voluntary supporters, as well as sociological accompanying studies, will serve to provide recommendations on how insects can be best protected in nature reserves.

Swenson SJ, Gemeinholzer B (2021): Testing the effect of pollen exine rupture on metabarcoding with Illumina sequencing. PLoS One;16(2):e0245611. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245611