The Institute of Integrative Nature Conservation Research has a molecular biology laboratory for addressing questions in the field of molecular biodiversity research. Analysis of evolution and specialization processes, as well as ecological differentiation and gene flow, are the focus. The laboratory's equipment enables preparation for comparative sequencing, phylogeography, barcoding and metabarcoding, as well as microsatellite analyses for population genetic approaches. Among other things, the research group is actively involved in the Austrian Barcode of Life (ABOL) initiative, particularly through DNA barcoding of plants and wild bees. Projects with Next-Generation Sequencing and high-throughput genotyping are carried out through the development of laboratory protocols and bioinformatic tools.
