Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Biology 1 article published in JoVE Biology Isolation and Characterization of the Natural Microbiota of the Model Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans Carola Petersen1, Katja Dierking1, Julia Johnke1, Hinrich Schulenburg1,2 1Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, University of Kiel, 2Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Biology Caenorhabditis elegans is one of the main model species in biology, yet almost all research is performed in the absence of its naturally associated microbes. The methods described here will help to improve our understanding of the diversity of associated microbes as a basis for future functional C. elegans research.