design: DNA was extracted in-house from multiple individuals (cultures) for nematode and tardigrade species, or from single specimens for all other taxa. For microfauna and mesofauna, the whole specimen was used for DNA extraction, while body parts of macrofauna were used. A non-destructive DNA extraction protocol was followed, according to Gilbert et al. (2007), except for Illumina batch 8 where the standard DNeasy Tissue Kit was used (Qiagen Inc.). Library preparations were performed in-house for earlier Illumina batches, and directly at Novogene from batch 7 onwards according to the NEBNext Ultra II DNA Library Prep Kit. Gilbert MTP, Moore W, Melchior L, Worobey M (2007) DNA Extraction from Dry Museum Beetles without Conferring External Morphological Damage. PLoS ONE 2(3): e272. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000389