Temperature alters interactions and keystone taxa in the marine microbiome.

ABSTRACT: Marine microbes shape global biogeochemical cycles and marine food webs. Although biotic interactions underpin microbial community dynamics, most interactions between wild marine microbes are unknown. Here, we used empirical dynamic modeling to examine a six-year record of coastal microbial community composition to quantify microbial interactions and their changes through time. We found that, on average, marine microbes interact with 20% of other taxa in the community, most interactions are weak (80%), and that positive interactions are more common than negative interactions. Keystone taxa, defined as having disproportionally strong and frequent interactions, were not generally the most abundant taxa. The strength and sign of interactions, as well as the identity of the keystone taxa, vari

SUBMITTER: Merz E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12822067 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature