The research aim was categorised according to whether the focus was (i) the comparison of molecular and/or bioinformatic procedures for metabarcoding, (ii) a proof-of-concept or feasibility study into the success of metabarcoding for uncovering accurate community data in the taxon/community/biome studied, or (iii) principally the study of ecological patterns and processes. We recorded whether the metabarcoded communities were sampled from marine, freshwater, terrestrial biomes or from a host species, and finally if the targets were invertebrates or vertebrates.