Dr. Jonas Astrin

Head of Section
Biobank Curator

Biobank

Tel: +49 228 9122-357

Fax: +49 228 9122-6357

Mail: j.astrin [at] leibniz-lib.de

Tabs

Profile

Research interests

Biobank management, biospecimen science, DNA preservation, cell culture, DNA barcoding, integrative taxonomy, wildlife forensics, LIS (Library and Information Science)

Memberships

GGBN - Global Genome Biodiversity Network, ISBER - International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories, Frozen Ark Consortium, DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung) (advisor), iBOL Science Committee, SWFS - Society for Wildlife Forensic Science, ICOM NATHIST, Bund Naturschutz (BUND), Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU), GDK - Alliance of German Cryobanks

External websites and profiles

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonas-astrin-b8480233/

Projects

2022

Biodiversity Genomics Europe (BGE) project

Unit:

Comparative Vertebrate Genomics, Biobank, Metabarcoding, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera

Project lead:

Astrid Böhne

Funding:

European Union

CellGen

The CellGen project is composed of two main parts. The first part investigates whether cell cultures accumulate mutations with progressive number of passages. One of the advantages of cell culture is to provide best quality of DNA/RNA and metaphases. Hence, we expect that cell culture will experience a renaissance in the light of high throughput sequencing techniques. However, it is still not clear how the number of passages (i.e., the number of times cells are transferred from vessel to vessel) can affect genetic and chromosomal composition.

Unit:

Biobank, Comparative Vertebrate Genomics, Hymenoptera

Project lead:

Dr. Camilla Bruno Di Nizo

ERGA - The European Referen...

The European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) initiative is a pan-European scientific response to current threats to biodiversity. Reference genomes provide the most complete insight into the genetic basis that forms each species and represent a powerful resource in understanding how biodiversity functions. ERGA aims to sequence the genomes of all European species and will for this establish an interdisciplinary workflow.

Unit:

Comparative Vertebrate Genomics, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Comparative Insect Genomics, Biobank

Project lead:

Astrid Böhne

Funding:

European Union

2021

Genomic technology for the Caucasus

It is planned to undertake 1) a comprehensive upgrade of researchinfrastructure in the molecular ecology laboratory at ISU, and 2) ajoint research investigation of biodiversity and refugial areas in the Caucasus region. Improvements to research infrastructure will providemodern biotechnology to researchers in the Caucasus region, including next generation sequencing (NGS) and real time PCR.

Unit:

Directorate, Chair Systematic Zoology, Biobank, Administration

Project lead:

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof

2020

CaBOL - Caucasus Barcode of Life

A Georgian-Armenian-German initiative to build research infrastructures and to explore and barcode the biodiversity of the Caucasus

Unit:

Directorate, Chair Systematic Zoology, Biobank, Department Arthropoda, Biodiversity Informatics, Diptera, Administration

Project lead:

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof

Funding:

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

GBOL III: Dark Taxa

The BMBF-funded GBOL, the German Barcode of Life initiative, has been run successfully over the last eight years. It delivered an operative DNA barcode reference library for German animals, fungi and plants. However, a significant proportion of insect taxa has so far been excluded from GBOL and merely all biodiversity research, because no or only very insufficient expertise and information are available that allow to get a grip on them. They are called “Dark Taxa”.

Unit:

Hymenoptera, Diptera, Chair Systematic Zoology, Mammalogy, Biobank, Biodiversity Informatics, Directorate, Centre for Biodiversity Monitoring and Conservation Science (zbm), Administration, ZFMK International Graduate School, Metabarcoding, Department Arthropoda, Centre for Molecular Biodiversity Research (zmb)

Project lead:

Dr. Ralph S. Peters

Funding:

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

2019

FOGS - Forensic Genetics for Species Protection

The FOGS project develops DNA-based tools to combat illegal trade in protected animal species.

Unit:

Biobank, Directorate, Chair Systematic Zoology, Biodiversity Informatics, Herpetology, Administration, Computational Genomics

Project lead:

Dr. Jonas Astrin

Funding:

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Joint Danube Survey

JDS monitors key water quality elements (including biodiversity) for the length of the Danube River and its major tributaries.

Unit:

Biobank

Project lead:

Dr. Jonas Astrin

DNA barcoding of benthic invertebrates from Lake Sevan (Armenia)

Building a reference database of DNA barcodes for the Lake Sevan drainage basin

Unit:

Biobank, Lepidoptera, Department Arthropoda

Project lead:

Dr. Jonas Astrin

Funding:

German Academic Exchange Service

SYNTHESYS+ NA3.1

SYNTHESYS+ subproject NA3.1 collects existing standards and practices in the biodiversity biobanking community and identifies gaps.

Unit:

Biobank

Project lead:

Dr. Jonas Astrin

Funding:

European Union

2018

ISBER Best Practices: Recommendations for Repositories

Guidance for the collection, handling, storage, and distribution of biological and environmental samples

Unit:

Biobank

Project lead:

Dr. Jonas Astrin

Cell banking at the LIB Biobank

ZFMK Biobank archives viable cell material for research and ex-situ conservation.

Unit:

Biobank, Hymenoptera, Comparative Vertebrate Genomics

Project lead:

Dr. Jonas Astrin

2017

GGBC: Assessment, Monitoring and Management of Caucasian Biodiversity

A Georgian-German initiative to explore and barcode the biodiversity of the Caucasus area

Unit:

Directorate, Chair Systematic Zoology, Biobank, Department Arthropoda, Coleoptera, Mammalogy, Lepidoptera, Herpetology, Administration, ZFMK International Graduate School, Biodiversity Informatics, Metabarcoding, Myriapoda, Arachnids, Staff Council, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Comparative Insect Genomics

Project lead:

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof

Funding:

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Optimizing and standardizing the preservation of animal tissue for molecular biodiversity research

Towards establishing a clearer, comparative perspective on some of the most commonly used preservation/fixation fluids in zoological biobanking.

Unit:

Biobank

Project lead:

Dr. Jonas Astrin

2014

Bumbuna Phase II Project

Baseline Study and Ecological Monitoring before and after the inundation of the Bumbuna Hydroelectric Project Reservoir.

Unit:

Mammalogy, Taxidermy, Ichthyology, Biobank

Project lead:

Dr. Jan Decher

Funding:

Combined Ecology, BTO Services Ltd., UK

ESBB & ISBER Enviro-Bio Working Group

The Enviro-Bio Working Group is a collaboration of biodiversity biobanks within ISBER and ESBB, the international and European biobanking societies.

Unit:

Biobank

Project lead:

Dr. Jonas Astrin

2012

Frozen Ark Project

Network for ex-situ conservation of molecular biodiversity

Unit:

Biobank

Project lead:

Dr. Jonas Astrin

Global Genome Biodiversity Network (GGBN)

Establishing standards for the preservation of molecular samples and molecular biodiversity.

Unit:

Biobank, Biodiversity Informatics

Project lead:

Dr. Jonas Astrin

2011

Molecular Weevil Identification

DNA barcoding the European weevil fauna and building molecular and morphological weevil collections

Unit:

Biobank, Coleoptera

Project lead:

Dr. Jonas Astrin

GBOL- German Barcode of Life

"German Barcode of Life" ( GBOL ) is a project sponsored by the BMBF and includes the creation of inventories for the gentic characterization of the animals, fungi and plants of germany, using DNA-Barcodes.

Project lead:

Prof. Dr. J. Wolfgang Wägele

Funding:

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

2007

DNA Bank Network

Unit:

Directorate, Molecular Laboratory, Biobank, Chair Systematic Zoology, Chair Molecular Biodiversity Research

Project lead:

Dr. Jonas Astrin

Funding:

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Integrative taxonomy in cryptic weevils

Integrative taxonomy and DNA barcoding in western Palearctic weevils of the subfamily Cryptorhynchinae

Unit:

Biobank

Project lead:

Dr. Jonas Astrin

Funding:

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Publications

Published in

2023

Brasseur, M. V., Astrin, J. J., Geiger, M. F., & Mayer, C. (2023): MitoGeneExtractor: Efficient extraction of mitochondrial genes from next-generation sequencing libraries.- Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 00, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.14075.

[more]

Corrales, C., Astrin, J.J. (eds.) (2023): Biodiversity Biobanking – a Handbook on Protocols and Practices. - Pensoft (Sofia). 271 pp.

[more]

Links:

https://doi.org/10.3897/ab.e101876

Corrales, C., Luciano, S., Astrin, J.J. (2023) Biodiversity biobanks: a landscape analysis. - ARPHA Preprints, 4, e103105 (-> RIO journal).

[more]

Links:

https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e103105

Schütte, A., Stüben, P.E., Astrin, J.J. (2023) Molecular Weevil Identification Project: A thoroughly curated barcode release of 1300 Western Palearctic weevil species (Coleoptera, Curculionoidea). - Biodiversity Data Journal, 11, e96438.

[more]

Links:

https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.11.e96438

2022

Huber, B.A., Meng, G., Acurio, A.E., Astrin, J.J., Inclán, D.J., Izquierdo, M. and Valdez-Mondragón, A. (2022): Metagonia spiders of Galápagos: blind cave-dwellers and their epigean relatives (Araneae, Pholcidae). - Invertebrate Systematics 36, 647-678.

[more]

Links:

https://doi.org/10.1071/IS21082

Wegewitz, V., Muster, C., & Astrin, J. J. (2022). Infection with mermithid nematodes causes the depriesteri morphology in Philodromus collinus (Araneae: Philodromidae). - Arachnologische Mitteilungen: Arachnology Letters, 64(1), 25-28.

[more]

Links:

https://doi.org/10.30963/aramit6403

Zizka, V.M.A., Koschorreck, J., Khan, C.C., Astrin, J.J. (2022): Long-term archival of environmental samples empowers biodiversity monitoring and ecological research. - Environmental Sciences Europe 34, 40.

[more]

Links:

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-022-00618-y

2021

Mengual, X., Gimnich, F., Petersen, H., Astrin, J. J. (2021): Natural history wet collections: observations on pH readings from the use of different ethanol and label types. - Collection Forum (2019) 33 (1): 7-17.

[more]

Muster, C., Spelda, J., Rulik, B., Thormann, J., von der Mark, L., Astrin, J.J. (2021): The dark side of pseudoscorpion diversity: The German Barcode of Life campaign reveals high levels of undocumented diversity in European false scorpions. - Ecology and Evolution 11, 13815–13829.

[more]

Links:

https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8088

Stüben, P.E., Schütte, A., Astrin, J.J. (2021): Barcoding and interspecific relationships of Macaronesian Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea). - Contributions to Entomology 71, 127–135.

[more]

Links:

https://doi.org/10.21248/contrib.entomol.71.1.127-135

Weigand, A.M. and Astrin, J.J. (2021) Introduction: (e)DNA-based activities. In Liška, I., Wagner, F., Sengl, M., Deutsch, K., Slobodník, J. and Paunovic, M. (eds.), Joint Danube Survey 4 Scientific Report: A Shared Analysis of the Danube River. International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, Vienna, pp. 115-120. ISBN 978-3-200-07450-7

[more]

Links:

http://www.danubesurvey.org/jds4/publications/scientific-report

2020

Leese, F., Beermann, A.J., Zizka, V. unter Mitarbeit von Astrin, J., Bálint, M., Bourlat, S., Buchner, D., Elbrecht, V., Hörren, T., Krehenwinkel, H., Monaghan, M., Morinière, J., Pauls, S.U., Schäffler, L., Weigand, A. 2020 Potenzial genetischer Methoden für die Erfassung und das Monitoring von Insekten. Ausarbeitung im Rahmen des F+E-Vorhabens „Konzeptentwicklung zum bundesweiten Insektenmonitoring"

[more]

Auliya, M., Hofmann, S., Segniagbeto, G.H., Assou, D., Ronfot, D., Astrin, J.J., Forat, S., Ketoh, G.K.K., D'Cruze, N. (2020): The first genetic assessment of wild and farmed ball pythons (Reptilia, Serpentes, Pythonidae) in southern Togo. - Nature Conservation 38: 37–59.

[more]

Links:

https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.38.49478

Epitashvili, G., Geiger, M., Astrin, J.J., Herder, F., Japoshvili, B., Mumladze, L. (2020): Towards retrieving the Promethean treasure: a first molecular assessment of the freshwater fish diversity of Georgia. Biodiversity Data Journal 8: e57862. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.8.e57862

[more]

Giebner, H., Langen, K., Bourlat, S.J., Kukowka, S., Mayer, C., Astrin, J.J., Misof, B., Fonseca, V.G. (2020): Comparing diversity levels in environmental samples: DNA sequence capture and metabarcoding approaches using 18S and COI genes. - Molecular Ecology Resources 20: 1333–1345.

[more]

Links:

https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13201

Kefelioglu, H., Krystufek, B., Selçuk, A.Y., Hutterer, R. and Astrin, J.J. (2020): Taxonomic revision of the Levant moles of Turkey (Mammalia: Talpidae). - Bonn zoological Bulletin 69, 275–291.

[more]

Links:

https://doi.org/10.20363/BZB-2020.69.2.275

2019

Hutterer, R., Decher, J., Monadjem, A., Astrin, J. J. (2019): A new genus and species of vesper bat from West Africa, with notes on Hypsugo, Neoromicia, and Pipistrellus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). - Acta Chiropterologica 21: 1-22.

[more]

Links:

http://dx.doi.org/10.3161/15081109ACC2019.21.1.001

Barker, K., Astrin, J. J., Droege, G., Coddington, J., Seberg, O. (2019): Furthering Genomic Research Infrastructures: The Global Genome Biodiversity Network. - Biodiversity Information Science and Standards 3: e37155.

[more]

Links:

http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/biss.3.37155

Barker, K., Astrin, J. J., Droege, G., Coddington, J. and Seberg, O. (2019): An Evolving Business Model for a Biodiversity Biobank Network: GGBN. - Biodiversity Information Science and Standards 3: e37154.

[more]

Links:

http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/biss.3.37154

Thormann, Jana, Dirk Ahrens, Cort Anderson, Jonas J. Astrin, Levan Mumladze, Björn Rulik, David Tarkhnishvili, Marianne Espeland, Matthias Geiger, Nils Hein, Giorgi Iankoshvili, Elisabeth Karalashvili, Ximo Mengual, Carsten Morkel, Marco T. Neiber, Ralph S. Peters, André Reimann, Axel Ssymank, Thomas Wesener, Joachim Ziegler & Bernhard Misof (2019): A prelude to the Caucasus Barcode of Life Platform (CaBOL): Biodiversity Days in Georgia in 2018 and 2019. – Bonn zoological Bulletin 68 (2): 275–296.

[more]

Links:

[Fulltext PDF]

Occupations

since 2010
Researcher at the Center for Molecular Biodiversity, ZFMK;
biobank curator and section head (Molecular Taxonomy and Biobank)

2007-2010
Research assistant at Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig; own PhD project

2005-2007
Scientific assistant at the German Reference Centre for Ethics in the Life Sciences

Education

2010 Ph.D. (Zoology), University of Bonn

2008 M.A. (Library and Information Science), Humboldt-University Berlin

2005 M.Sc. equivalent (Biology), University of Bonn

2003 B.A. equivalent (Philosophy), University of Würzburg

2002 B.Sc. equivalent (Biology), University of Würzburg

Grants

2020-2023
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research:
CaBOL: Caucasus Barcode of Life

2020-2023
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research:
GBOL (German Barcode of Life) III: Dark Taxa

2019-2022
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research:
FOGS - Forensic Genetics for Species Protection

2019-2022
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research:
Development of AMMOD Stations - Weather Stations for Species Diversity

2019-2023
European Commission (Horizon 2020):
Synthesis of systematic resources (SYNTHESYS+), NA3.1 task lead

2017-2020
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research:
German-Georgian Biodiversity Center

2016-2018
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research:
German Barcode of Life (GBOL) 2

2011-2015
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research:
GBOL – German Barcode of Life

2007-2011
German Research Foundation (DFG):
Integrative taxonomy in cryptic weevils

2008
Alexander Koenig Foundation:
Canopy fogging in the Macaronesian laurel forest

2004-2005
Alexander Koenig Foundation:
DNA taxonomy in pholcid spiders

2000-2001
Scholarship at the University of Texas at Austin

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Dr. Jonas Astrin

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