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Ecological genetics

Molecular genetic techniques are becoming increasingly important for the study of biodiversity and nature conservation. Differences in the exact code of their DNA (genetic variation) allow not only the discrimination of different species, but also of different individuals within species. Thus, genetic techniques can be used to detect or identify species, and to assess relationships between individuals. This is very helpful for answering a broad range of applied and scientific questions related to nature conservation. Using molecular methods we study levels of diversity in ecosystems, we assess the viability of populations or the impact of management or infrastructural changes on this viability, we reveal dispersal patterns, and track the origin of individuals.

The Molecular Ecology Laboratory of Wageningen Environmental Research focuses on techniques for non-invasive or non-intrusive monitoring. Using such techniques we are able to monitor animal populations by molecular analysis of their excrements, hairs, antlers, feathers or other remains found in the field, without having to capture or even see the animals. Likewise, environmental DNA (cellular or extracellular DNA left by an organism in the environment it lives in) can be used to detect the presence of a species or investigate biodiversity based on field samples of soil or water bodies. Working with DNA of low quantity and quality, as is typically obtained from these kinds of samples, is challenging and requires both experience and specialized protocols.

Publications

Monitoring population viability:

The reintroduction of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) into the Netherlands: hidden life revealed by noninvasive genetic monitoring Koelewijn, H.P. ; Pérez-Haro, M. ; Jansman, H.A.H. ; Boerwinkel, M.C.; Bovenschen, J. ; Lammertsma, D.R. ; Niewold, F.J.J.; Kuiters, A.T. (2010) Conservation Genetics 11 (2). - p. 601 - 614.
Hidden dispersal in an urban world: genetic analysis reveals occasional long-distance dispersal and limited spatial substructure among Dutch pine martens Groot, G.A. de; Hofmeester, T.R. ; Haye, M.J.J. la; Jansman, H.A.H. ; Perez-Haro, M.I. ; Koelewijn, H.P. (2016)
Conservation Genetics 17 (1). - p. 111 - 123.

Detecting migration patterns and barriers for genetic exchange:

Decades of population genetic research reveal the need for harmonization of molecular markers Groot, G.A. de; Nowak, Carsten ; Skrbinšek, Tomaž ; Andersen, Liselotte W. ; Aspi, Jouni ; Fumagalli, Luca ; Godinho, Raquel ; Harms, Verena ; Jansman, H.A.H. ; Liberg, Olof; Marucco, Francesca ; Mysłajek, Robert W. ; Nowak, Sabina ; Pilot, Małgorzata ; Randi, Ettore ; Reinhardt, Ilka ; Śmietana, Wojciech; Szewczyk, Maciej ; Taberlet, Pierre ; Vilà, Carles ; Muñoz-Fuentes, Violeta (2016) Mammal Review 46 (1). - p. 44 - 59.
Going against the flow: a case for upstream dispersal and detection of uncommon dispersal events Jasper Wubs, E.R. ; Fraaije, Rob G.A. ; Groot, G.A. de; Erkens, R.H.J. ; Garsen, Annemarie G. ; Kleyheeg, Erik; Raven, Bart M. ; Soons, Merel B. (2016) Freshwater Biology . - p. 580 - 595.

eDNA barcoding:

De Groot G.A., Laros I., Geisen S. (2016) Molecular identification of soil eukaryotes and focused approaches targeting protists and faunal groups using high-throughput metabarcoding. In: Martin F. & Uroz S. (eds.) Microbial Environmental Genomics. Springer: Methods Molecular Biology volume 1399. P. 125-140.
Not all are free-living: high-throughput DNA metabarcoding reveals a diverse community of protists parasitizing soil metazoa Geisen, S. ; Laros, I. ; Vizcaino, A. ; Bonkowski, M. ; Groot, G.A. de (2015)
Molecular Ecology 24 (17). - p. 4556 - 4569.
A tiered approach for high-resolution characterization of the soil faunal community via dna metabarcoding Groot, G.A. de; Geisen, S. ; Laros, I. ; Faber, J.H. ; Schmeltz, R. (2014) In: Book of Abstracts of the First Global Soil Biodiversity Conference. p. 87 - 87.
Soil biodiversity and DNA barcodes: opportunities and challenges Orgiazzi, A. ; Bonnet Dunbar, M. ; Panagos, P. ; Groot, G.A. de; Lemanceau, P. (2014) Soil Biology and Biochemistry 80 (1). - p. 244 - 250.

Forensic research:

Badger hair in shaving brushes comes from protected Eurasian badgers Domingo-Roura, X. ; Marmi, J. ; Ferrando, A. ; López-Giráldez, F. ; Macdonald, D.W. ; Jansman, H.A.H. (2006) Biological Conservation 128 (3). - p. 425 - 430.
The first wolf found in the Netherlands in 150 years was the victim of a wildlife crime Gravendeel, B. ; Groot, G.A. de; Kik, M. ; Beentjes, K.; Bergman, H. ; Caniglia, R. ; Cremers, H. ; Fabbri, E. ; Groenenberg, D.; Grone, A. ; Groot Bruinderink, G.W.T.A. ; Font, I. ; Hakhof, J. ; Harms, V. ; Jansman, H.A.H. ; Janssen, R. ; Lammertsma, D.R. ; Laros, I. ; Linnartz, L. ; Marel, D. van der; Mulder, J.L. ; Mije, S. van der; Nieman, A.M. ; Nowak, C. ; Randi, E. ; Rijks, M. ; Speksnijder, A.; Vonhof, H.B. (2013) Lutra 56 (2). - p. 93 - 109.