Journal article

The MetaInvert soil invertebrate genome resource provides insights into below-ground biodiversity and evolution


Authors listCollins, Gemma; Schneider, Clement; Bostjancic, Ljudevit Luka; Burkhardt, Ulrich; Christian, Axel; Decker, Peter; Ebersberger, Ingo; Hohberg, Karin; Lecompte, Odile; Merges, Dominik; Muelbaier, Hannah; Romahn, Juliane; Roembke, Jorg; Rutz, Christelle; Schmelz, Rudiger; Schmidt, Alexandra; Theissinger, Kathrin; Veres, Robert; Lehmitz, Ricarda; Pfenninger, Markus; Balint, Miklos

Publication year2023

JournalCommunications Biology

Volume number6

Issue number1

eISSN2399-3642

Open access statusGold

DOI Linkhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-05621-4

PublisherNature Research


Abstract

Soil invertebrates are among the least understood metazoans on Earth. Thus far, the lack of taxonomically broad and dense genomic resources has made it hard to thoroughly investigate their evolution and ecology. With MetaInvert we provide draft genome assemblies for 232 soil invertebrate species, representing 14 common groups and 94 families. We show that this data substantially extends the taxonomic scope of DNA- or RNA-based taxonomic identification. Moreover, we confirm that theories of genome evolution cannot be generalised across evolutionarily distinct invertebrate groups. The soil invertebrate genomes presented here will support the management of soil biodiversity through molecular monitoring of community composition and function, and the discovery of evolutionary adaptations to the challenges of soil conditions.

The MetaInvert database provides draft genome assemblies for 232 soil invertebrate species, representing 14 common groups and 94 families, that will aid in the discovery and management of soil biodiversity.




Citation Styles

Harvard Citation styleCollins, G., Schneider, C., Bostjancic, L., Burkhardt, U., Christian, A., Decker, P., et al. (2023) The MetaInvert soil invertebrate genome resource provides insights into below-ground biodiversity and evolution, Communications Biology, 6(1), Article 1241. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-05621-4

APA Citation styleCollins, G., Schneider, C., Bostjancic, L., Burkhardt, U., Christian, A., Decker, P., Ebersberger, I., Hohberg, K., Lecompte, O., Merges, D., Muelbaier, H., Romahn, J., Roembke, J., Rutz, C., Schmelz, R., Schmidt, A., Theissinger, K., Veres, R., Lehmitz, R., ...Balint, M. (2023). The MetaInvert soil invertebrate genome resource provides insights into below-ground biodiversity and evolution. Communications Biology. 6(1), Article 1241. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-05621-4


Last updated on 2025-10-06 at 12:00