Trait-based approaches for understanding microbial biodiversity and ecosystem functioning

TY - JOUR

T1 - Trait-based approaches for understanding microbial biodiversity and ecosystem functioning

AU - Krause, S.

AU - Le Roux, X.

AU - Niklaus, P.A.

AU - van Bodegom, P.M.

AU - Lennon, J.T.

AU - Bertilsson, S.A.

AU - Grossart, H.P.

AU - Philippot, L.

AU - Bodelier, P.L.E.

N1 - Reporting year: 2014 Metis note: 5610; ME; Data archiving: no data; review

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - In ecology, biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) research has seen a shift in perspective from taxonomy to function in the last two decades, with successful application of trait-based approaches. This shift offers opportunities for a deeper mechanistic understanding of the role of biodiversity in maintaining multiple ecosystem processes and services. In this paper, we highlight studies that have focused on BEF of microbial communities with an emphasis on integrating trait-based approaches to microbial ecology. In doing so, we explore some of the inherent challenges and opportunities of understanding BEF using microbial systems. For example, microbial biologists characterize communities using gene phylogenies that are often unable to resolve functional traits. Additionally, experimental designs of existing microbial BEF studies are often inadequate to unravel BEF relationships. We argue that combining eco-physiological studies with contemporary molecular tools in a trait-based framework can reinforce our ability to link microbial diversity to ecosystem processes. We conclude that such trait-based approaches are a promising framework to increase the understanding of microbial BEF relationships and thus generating systematic principles in microbial ecology and more generally ecology.

AB - In ecology, biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) research has seen a shift in perspective from taxonomy to function in the last two decades, with successful application of trait-based approaches. This shift offers opportunities for a deeper mechanistic understanding of the role of biodiversity in maintaining multiple ecosystem processes and services. In this paper, we highlight studies that have focused on BEF of microbial communities with an emphasis on integrating trait-based approaches to microbial ecology. In doing so, we explore some of the inherent challenges and opportunities of understanding BEF using microbial systems. For example, microbial biologists characterize communities using gene phylogenies that are often unable to resolve functional traits. Additionally, experimental designs of existing microbial BEF studies are often inadequate to unravel BEF relationships. We argue that combining eco-physiological studies with contemporary molecular tools in a trait-based framework can reinforce our ability to link microbial diversity to ecosystem processes. We conclude that such trait-based approaches are a promising framework to increase the understanding of microbial BEF relationships and thus generating systematic principles in microbial ecology and more generally ecology.

KW - international

U2 - 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00251

DO - 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00251

M3 - Article

SN - 1664-302X

VL - 5

SP - 251

JO - Frontiers in Microbiology

JF - Frontiers in Microbiology

ER -