The utility of macroecological rules for microbial biogeography
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Vol. 9, 633155, 01.04.2021.
Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The utility of macroecological rules for microbial biogeography
AU - Dickey, Jonathan R.
AU - Swenie, Rachel A.
AU - Turner, Sophia
AU - Winfrey, Claire C.
AU - Yaffar, Daniela
AU - Padukone, Anchal
AU - Beals, Kendall K.
AU - Sheldon, Kimberly S.
AU - Kivlin, Stephanie N.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Copyright © 2021 Dickey, Swenie, Turner, Winfrey, Yaffar, Padukone, Beals, Sheldon and Kivlin.
PY - 2021/4/1
Y1 - 2021/4/1
N2 - Macroecological rules have been developed for plants and animals that describe large-scale distributional patterns and attempt to explain the underlying physiological and ecological processes behind them. Similarly, microorganisms exhibit patterns in relative abundance, distribution, diversity, and traits across space and time, yet it remains unclear the extent to which microorganisms follow macroecological rules initially developed for macroorganisms. Additionally, the usefulness of these rules as a null hypothesis when surveying microorganisms has yet to be fully evaluated. With rapid advancements in sequencing technology, we have seen a recent increase in microbial studies that utilize macroecological frameworks. Here, we review and synthesize these macroecological microbial studies with two main objectives: (1) to determine to what extent macroecological rules explain the distribution of host-associated and free-living microorganisms, and (2) to understand which environmental factors and stochastic processes may explain these patterns among microbial clades (archaea, bacteria, fungi, and protists) and habitats (host-associated and free living; terrestrial and aquatic). Overall, 78% of microbial macroecology studies focused on free living, aquatic organisms. In addition, most studies examined macroecological rules at the community level with only 35% of studies surveying organismal patterns across space. At the community level microorganisms often tracked patterns of macroorganisms for island biogeography (74% confirm) but rarely followed Latitudinal Diversity Gradients (LDGs) of macroorganisms (only 32% confirm). However, when microorganisms and macroorganisms shared the same macroecological patterns, underlying environmental drivers (e.g., temperature) were the same. Because we found a lack of studies for many microbial groups and habitats, we conclude our review by outlining several outstanding questions and creating recommendations for future studies in microbial ecology.
AB - Macroecological rules have been developed for plants and animals that describe large-scale distributional patterns and attempt to explain the underlying physiological and ecological processes behind them. Similarly, microorganisms exhibit patterns in relative abundance, distribution, diversity, and traits across space and time, yet it remains unclear the extent to which microorganisms follow macroecological rules initially developed for macroorganisms. Additionally, the usefulness of these rules as a null hypothesis when surveying microorganisms has yet to be fully evaluated. With rapid advancements in sequencing technology, we have seen a recent increase in microbial studies that utilize macroecological frameworks. Here, we review and synthesize these macroecological microbial studies with two main objectives: (1) to determine to what extent macroecological rules explain the distribution of host-associated and free-living microorganisms, and (2) to understand which environmental factors and stochastic processes may explain these patterns among microbial clades (archaea, bacteria, fungi, and protists) and habitats (host-associated and free living; terrestrial and aquatic). Overall, 78% of microbial macroecology studies focused on free living, aquatic organisms. In addition, most studies examined macroecological rules at the community level with only 35% of studies surveying organismal patterns across space. At the community level microorganisms often tracked patterns of macroorganisms for island biogeography (74% confirm) but rarely followed Latitudinal Diversity Gradients (LDGs) of macroorganisms (only 32% confirm). However, when microorganisms and macroorganisms shared the same macroecological patterns, underlying environmental drivers (e.g., temperature) were the same. Because we found a lack of studies for many microbial groups and habitats, we conclude our review by outlining several outstanding questions and creating recommendations for future studies in microbial ecology.
KW - Ecosystems Research
KW - microorganisms
KW - Rapoport's rule
KW - abundance/occupancy
KW - Bergmann's rule
KW - Theory of Island Biogeography
KW - latitudinal diversity gradient
KW - macroecology
KW - microorganisms
KW - Rapoport's rule
KW - abundance/occupancy
KW - Bergmann's rule
KW - Theory of Island Biogeography
KW - Species-Area Relationship
KW - latitudinal diversity gradient
KW - macroecology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85104262588&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/b8246ae4-9f4d-3529-a7ff-7d0ca2e8824c/
U2 - 10.3389/fevo.2021.633155
DO - 10.3389/fevo.2021.633155
M3 - Scientific review articles
VL - 9
JO - Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
JF - Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
SN - 2296-701X
M1 - 633155
ER -