The ecology of scale: impact of volume on coalescence and function in methanogenic communities.

ABSTRACT: Engineered ecosystems span multiple volume scales, from a nano-scale to thousands of cubic metres. Even the largest industrial systems are tested in pilot scale facilities. But does scale affect outcomes? Here we look at comparing different size laboratory anaerobic fermentors to see if and how the volume of the community affects the outcome of community coalescence (combining multiple communities) on community composition and function. Our results show that there is an effect of scale on biogas production. Furthermore, we see a link between community evenness and volume, with smaller scale communities having higher evenness. Despite those differences, the overall patterns of community coalescence are very similar at all scales, with coalescence leading to levels of biogas production compa

SUBMITTER: Sierocinski P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10251116 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature