Where less may be more: How the rare biosphere pulls ecosystems strings

TY - JOUR

T1 - Where less may be more: How the rare biosphere pulls ecosystems strings

AU - Jousset, Alexandre

AU - Bienhold, C.

AU - Chatzinotas, A.

AU - Gallien, L.

AU - Gobet, A.

AU - Kurm, Viola

AU - Kuesel, K.

AU - Rillig, M.

AU - Rivett, D.

AU - Salles, Joanna

AU - Van der Heijden, M.G.A.

AU - Youssef, N.

AU - Zhang, Xiaowei

AU - Wei, Z.

AU - Hol, W.H.G.

N1 - 6195, TE; Data archiving: no data (review)

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - Rare species are increasingly recognized as crucial, yet vulnerable components of Earth’s ecosystems. This is also true for microbial communities, which are typically composed of a high number of relatively rare species. Recent studies have demonstrated that rare species can have an over-proportional role in biogeochemical cycles and may be a hidden driver of microbiome function. In this review, we provide an ecological overview of the rare microbial biosphere, including causes of rarity and the impacts of rare species on ecosystem functioning. We discuss how rare species can have a preponderant role for local biodiversity and species turnover with rarity potentially bound to phylogenetically conserved features. Rare microbes may therefore be overlooked keystone species regulating the functioning of host-associated, terrestrial and aquatic environments. We conclude this review with recommendations to guide scientists interested in investigating this rapidly emerging research area.

AB - Rare species are increasingly recognized as crucial, yet vulnerable components of Earth’s ecosystems. This is also true for microbial communities, which are typically composed of a high number of relatively rare species. Recent studies have demonstrated that rare species can have an over-proportional role in biogeochemical cycles and may be a hidden driver of microbiome function. In this review, we provide an ecological overview of the rare microbial biosphere, including causes of rarity and the impacts of rare species on ecosystem functioning. We discuss how rare species can have a preponderant role for local biodiversity and species turnover with rarity potentially bound to phylogenetically conserved features. Rare microbes may therefore be overlooked keystone species regulating the functioning of host-associated, terrestrial and aquatic environments. We conclude this review with recommendations to guide scientists interested in investigating this rapidly emerging research area.

KW - international

U2 - 10.1038/ismej.2016.174

DO - 10.1038/ismej.2016.174

M3 - Article

SN - 1751-7362

VL - 11

SP - 853

EP - 862

JO - ISME Journal

JF - ISME Journal

ER -