The metabolomics platform is one of the technology platforms of the Collaborative Research Centre Transregio 212 of NC3 (Niche Choice, Niche Conformance, Niche Construction).
In this sub-project, methods are being established to analyse samples of various types (hair samples, volatile samples, organ samples, etc.) from aquatic to terrestrial organisms and from insects to vertebrates for their metabolic differences depending on the environmental conditions/resources to which the individuals are exposed. Among other things, the influences of individual substances are investigated in interactions between individuals and their social or ecological environment as well as their role in niche choice, conformance and construction. The metabolic profiles provide information on individual differences in terms of metabolic phenotypes (metabotypes), relatedness and physiology.
To investigate these metabolic differences, targeted (identification and quantification) or untargeted liquid (UHPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS/MS) and gas chromatography analyses (TD-GC-MS/GC-MS/GC-FID), are applied in particular. Subproject organisms analysed in the metabolomics platform include grasshoppers (project A03), salamanders (A04), Colorado potato beetles (A06), guinea pigs (B01), sawflies (B02), Mexican cave fish (B06), Galápagos sea lions (B07) and rice flour beetles (C01).