During my Erasmus+ internship at the Senckenberg Natural History Museum Görlitz, Germany, from August 27 to September 9, 2024, under the mentorship of Dr. Clement Schneider, I gained valuable skills in studying soil mesofauna invertebrates. My work involved sorting mesofauna groups, preparing temporary and permanent slides, and identifying species using light microscopy with various contrast systems, such as phase contrast and differential interference contrast (DIC). Using specialized keys, I identified springtail species (Collembola) and mite families (Acari), and prepared samples for DNA extraction and targeted sequencing of DNA markers. I had the opportunity to learn from leading experts in Europe specializing in soil invertebrate taxonomy, systematics, community ecology, morphology, and biogeography. This Erasmus+ internship was an invaluable experience, providing a deeper understanding of my field of interest, and I highly recommend it to other students.
