Connectivity Loss in Experimental Pond Networks Leads to Biodiversity Loss in Microbial Metacommunities.

ABSTRACT: Habitat fragmentation is among the most important global threats to biodiversity; however, the direct effects of its components including connectivity loss are largely unknown and still mostly inferred based on indirect evidence. Our understanding of these drivers is especially limited in microbial communities. Here, by conducting a 4-month outdoor experiment with artificial pond (mesocosm) metacommunities, we studied the effects of connectivity loss on planktonic microorganisms, primarily focusing on pro- and microeukaryotes. Connectivity loss was simulated by stopping the dispersal among local habitats after an initial period with dispersal. Keeping the habitat amount constant and the abiotic environment homogeneous allowed us to track the direct effects of the process of connectivity lo

SUBMITTER: Szabo B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11645464 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature