In the field
Primary focus on organisms living in streams, rivers, and lakes — aquatic insects, fungi, fish, plankton, and microbes.
Research focus →
Leibniz-IGB & Freie Universität Berlin
Evolution and biodiversity in freshwaters
We apply theory, data, and models from evolutionary biology to study freshwater ecosystems and the biodiversity of organisms living in them — in the field, the laboratory, and at the Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research.
Where we work
Three connected settings frame the group's research: natural freshwater systems, controlled laboratory work, and shared sequencing infrastructure in Berlin.
In the laboratory
Marker development, population genetics, phylogenetics and RNAseq underpin our understanding of evolutionary processes in freshwaters.
Methods and funding →At the Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research
We are active in the Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research, where environmental genomics and DNA metabarcoding are central tools.
Read more →About the group
We are the Molecular Ecology and Genomics Research Group at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) and the Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin. The group is led by Prof Dr Michael T Monaghan.
Our work combines evolutionary theory with modern sequencing to describe how freshwater communities assemble, diversify, and respond to change. Recent outputs include a global agenda for freshwater biodiversity research, work on climate-induced forest dieback, and reference genomes in conservation.
Methods
Our toolkit spans field sampling, wet-lab preparation and large-scale sequence analysis, applied to freshwater communities and ecosystems.
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Environmental genomics
Genome-scale data recovered directly from freshwater environments and their inhabitants.
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DNA metabarcoding
Community-level identification of aquatic insects, fungi, fish, plankton and microbes from bulk samples.
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Phylogenetics
Reconstructing evolutionary relationships to explain diversification in freshwater lineages.
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Population genetics
Quantifying genetic variation and structure within and among freshwater populations.
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Marker development
Designing and refining genetic markers suited to challenging aquatic sample types.
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RNAseq
Profiling gene expression to link genotype, physiology and environmental response.
The Molecular Ecology and Genomics Research Group works at the intersection of the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries and the Institute of Biology at Freie Universität Berlin. Using approaches drawn from evolutionary biology, the group investigates how genetic variation, gene expression, and genome-level patterns shape the diversity of organisms inhabiting rivers, streams, and other inland waters. This work combines theory, empirical data, and computational models, spanning fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and sequencing infrastructure.
Research themes within the group include the evolution of biodiversity in freshwaters, the population genetics of aquatic species, the ecology and genetics of fungi, insects, and parasites, and the biology of organisms such as eels that move between marine and freshwater phases of their life cycles. Questions about compositional changes in aquatic communities, climate-induced stress, forest dieback, temperature-driven variation in biomass, and the spread of invasive species are approached with molecular tools alongside classical ecological observation, connecting single-organism genetics with whole-community patterns.
Much of the group's activity takes place across three connected settings: natural freshwater systems studied in the field, controlled laboratory environments, and shared sequencing facilities such as the Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research. The resulting outputs appear in international journals and collaborative efforts, including contributions to global agendas for advancing freshwater biodiversity research and to broader reviews of environmental genomics. Teaching, public communication, and engagement with practitioners complement the scientific programme, extending the group's expertise on evolution, conservation, and aquatic biodiversity to a wider audience.
The team
The group brings together postdocs, doctoral students, MSc students, technical assistants and bioinformaticians, coordinated by the group leader.
Michael T. Monaghan
Group leader
Prof Dr Monaghan leads the Molecular Ecology and Genomics Research Group at IGB and the Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin.
Kingsly Chuo Beng
Postdoc
Current member of the group working on molecular approaches to freshwater biodiversity research.
Dagmar Frisch
Postdoc
Current member of the group working with evolutionary and genomic data from freshwater systems.
Recent publications
A selection of recent peer-reviewed articles and preprints from the group.
- Ecology Letters Maasri et al. (in press) — A global agenda for advancing freshwater biodiversity research.
- Insect Conservation and Diversity Welti et al. (in press) — Temperature drives variation in flying insect biomass across a German malaise trap network.
- Journal of Fungi Heeger et al. — Evidence for lignocellulose-decomposing enzymes in Clavariopsis aquatica.
- Parasitology Beng et al. — Temporal dynamics of freshwater planktonic parasites.
Teaching at Freie Universität Berlin
Our courses are part of the Biology Bachelor and Bioinformatics Master programmes at the Institute of Biology and the Institute of Informatics, and contribute to research projects and seminars.
- 23204 Data Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology — ABV module in the Biology Bachelor programme, winter semesters (5 LP).
- 23779 Biodiversity and Evolution — core module in the Bioinformatics Master programme, summer semesters (10 LP / 5 SWS).
- 23780 Environmental Metagenomics — practical seminar in the Bioinformatics Master programme, winter semesters.
Contact
For enquiries about research, publications, teaching or group matters, please reach out to the group leader directly.
| Address | Leibniz-Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V., Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Deutschland |
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| Phone | +49 (0) 30 6418 1684 |
| Fax | +49 (0) 30 6418 1682 |
| monaghan@igb-berlin.de |