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The contribution of species richness and composition to bacterial services

The contribution of species richness and composition to bacterial services Despite their importance, we are only beginning to understand how mixed communities of bacteria operate. There is a good reason for this: the microbial world is remarkably complex and dynamic so it is difficult to design experiments that ask the right questions. Laboratory microcosms are useful but involve small numbers of species in unreal situations. A natural ecosystem that can be manipulated experimentally is available, however. Rainpools that form in bark-lined depressions at the base of European beech trees are communities of up to 72 species, rather than the thousands found in, say, pond water. In this rainpool ecosystem the number of bacterial species (the biodiversity) strongly influences the rate at which the community provides a particular service (in this case, respiration). On this scale at least, species richness determines the level at which an ecosystem can function. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Nature Springer Journals

The contribution of species richness and composition to bacterial services

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References (32)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2005 by Nature Publishing Group
Subject
Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, multidisciplinary; Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, multidisciplinary; Science, multidisciplinary
ISSN
0028-0836
eISSN
1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/nature03891
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Despite their importance, we are only beginning to understand how mixed communities of bacteria operate. There is a good reason for this: the microbial world is remarkably complex and dynamic so it is difficult to design experiments that ask the right questions. Laboratory microcosms are useful but involve small numbers of species in unreal situations. A natural ecosystem that can be manipulated experimentally is available, however. Rainpools that form in bark-lined depressions at the base of European beech trees are communities of up to 72 species, rather than the thousands found in, say, pond water. In this rainpool ecosystem the number of bacterial species (the biodiversity) strongly influences the rate at which the community provides a particular service (in this case, respiration). On this scale at least, species richness determines the level at which an ecosystem can function.

Journal

Nature – Springer Journals

Published: Aug 25, 2005

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