Linking microbial communities to ecosystem functions: what we can learn from genotype-phenotype mapping in organisms.

ABSTRACT: Microbial physiological processes are intimately involved in nutrient cycling. However, it remains unclear to what extent microbial diversity or community composition is important for determining the rates of ecosystem-scale functions. There are many examples of positive correlations between microbial diversity and ecosystem function, but how microbial communities 'map' onto ecosystem functions remain unresolved. This uncertainty limits our ability to predict and manage crucial microbially mediated processes such as nutrient losses and greenhouse gas emissions. To overcome this challenge, we propose integrating traditional biodiversity-ecosystem function research with ideas from genotype-phenotype mapping in organisms. We identify two insights from genotype-phenotype mapping that could be

SUBMITTER: Morris A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7133535 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature