DNA barcoding of forest entomological relevant insects from the BFW insect collection
Climate change together with the spread of invasive species lead to increased pressure on the forest. In order to be able to react to negative effects as quickly as possible, early detection of changes is necessary. DNA barcoding enables the determination of organisms at an early stage of development or in mixed samples and is therefore suitable for the early detection of potential harmful organisms. For this kind of determination, publicly available reference data is required.
The aim of the project is the creation of DNA barcodes of 475 individuals from the collection of the Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW). A particular focus of the project will be on xylobiont beetle species. The use of an existing collection reduces the costs of creating DNA barcodes on the one hand, and on the other hand makes part of the collection available for the public. The sequence and metadata are entered in the international database BOLD and in the ABOL database.
Team
Christian Sturmbauer, project leader (ÖAW, Univ. Graz)
Gernot Hoch (BFW)
Werner Hinterstoisser (BFW)
Nikolaus Szucsich (NHM Vienna)
Funding: Austrian Academy of Sciences
Project status: completed
Latest News
M. SonnleitnerABOL-BioBlitz at Hohe Tauern National park28. July, 2025 - 16:39Fortunately, the weather in the Hohe Tauern was kind to us this year, from July 18-20, 2025. At the National Park’s Day of Biodiversity, in the Gradental and Gartltal valleys in Carinthia, not only was the weather record-breaking, but so was the number of participating experts, with almost 100 registrations. Many were already out in […]
N. FialABOL at the ÖEG Insect Camp in the Nature Park Hohe Wand14. July, 2025 - 15:39For the fourth time (in a row), ABOL participated in the 11th ÖEG Insect Camp from June 26th to 29th with a BioBlitz. This time, the trip took us to the Hohe Wand Nature Park in Lower Austria – a biogeographically highly interesting region on the northeastern edge of the Alps, where the Pannonian and […]
M. SonnleitnerABOL at the Day of Biodiversity in Baden bei Wien3. July, 2025 - 13:40On June 13 and 14, 2025, the Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald organized its 20th Day of Biodiversity– this year in the Lower Austrian part of the biosphere reserve around Baden bei Wien. Around 100 experts from various disciplines explored the diverse flora, fauna, and funga of the area from the Kurpark to the Lindkogel. In perfect […]
