Metabarcoding Invertebrate Communities in a Natural Park:

With ongoing scientific research, taxonomic resolution and sensitivity of molecular identification methods are continuously improving. In order to monitor the progress of ongoing renaturation measures in the Eifel National Park, Germany, changes in invertebrate community composition along a forest conversion gradient from non-native Norway spruce (Picea abies) to European beech (Fagus sylvatica) are documented. To capture a picture as complete as possible, species inhabiting the above ground habitat were sampled with Malaise traps while ground dwelling organisms were captured by eDNA metabarcoding of soil samples. For both source materials important methodological considerations are discussed.