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Diversity of Protists II

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...

Diversity of Protists III

Diversity of Protists III

Rhizaria are a diverse group of unicellular protists characterized by their threadlike cytoplasmic extensions known as pseudopodia. These structures aid in both locomotion and feeding, giving Rhizaria an amoeboid appearance. Their amoeboid morphology once led to taxonomic confusion, but molecular phylogenetics has clarified their evolutionary placement and emphasized their shared use of pseudopodia despite divergent lineages.This clade comprises diverse lineages such as Chlorarachniophyta,...

Diversity of Archaea II

Diversity of Archaea II

Archaea, one of the three domains of life, exhibit remarkable diversity and adaptability, thriving in both extreme and moderate environments. Historically, most identified archaea have been classified into two major phyla: Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. However, recent molecular studies have expanded this classification to include three additional phyla: Thaumarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, and Korarchaeota, each exhibiting unique characteristics and ecological roles.Thaumarchaeota: Mesophiles...

Diversity of Protists IV

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Amoebozoa represent a diverse group of terrestrial and aquatic protists that utilize lobe-shaped pseudopodia for locomotion and feeding. This characteristic differentiates them from the Rhizaria, which possess threadlike pseudopodia. The primary classifications within Amoebozoa include gymnamoebas, entamoebas, and the plasmodial and cellular slime molds. Phylogenetic evidence indicates that Amoebozoa diverged from a lineage that ultimately gave rise to fungi and animals.Gymnamoebas and...

Diversity of Archaea III

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Crenarchaeota, a prominent phylum of Archaea, is remarkable for its ability to thrive in extreme environments characterized by high temperatures and acidity. These microorganisms inhabit sulfuric hot springs, volcanic systems, and submarine hydrothermal vents, where temperatures often exceed 100°C. The unique adaptations of Crenarchaeota not only allow survival under such extreme conditions but also provide insights into the mechanisms of life in primordial Earth-like environments.Morphological...

Diversity of Protists I

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Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...

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Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Compost Microcosms as Microbially Diverse, Natural-like Environments for Microbiome Research in Caenorhabditis elegans

Compost Microcosms as Microbially Diverse, Natural-like Environments for Microbiome Research in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: September 13, 2022

Diversity meets decomposition.

Mark O Gessner¹, Christopher M Swan, Christian K Dang

¹Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland. gessner@eawag.ch

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

|March 2, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Biodiversity changes significantly impact dead organic matter decomposition in forest floors and streams. These changes affect crucial ecosystem functions like carbon cycling, influencing both mineralization and sequestration processes.

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Biogeochemistry
Ecosystem Science

Background:

Terrestrial plant biomass production exceeds 100 gigatons annually, with 90% entering dead organic matter pools.
Dead organic matter supports detritus-based food webs, crucial for regulating carbon mineralization and sequestration.
Understanding biodiversity's role in decomposition is vital for ecosystem functioning.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how changes in biodiversity affect leaf decomposition in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
To identify common and divergent mechanisms of biodiversity effects on decomposition in forest floors and streams.

Main Methods:

Analysis of existing concepts and experimental data on leaf decomposition.
Comparative study of decomposition processes in forest floor and stream environments.

Main Results:

Changes in species diversity, across and within trophic levels, significantly alter decomposition rates.
Mechanisms driving biodiversity effects on decomposition are broadly similar in forest floors and streams.
Divergent habitat conditions and evolutionary paths of decomposers explain differences in diversity effects between systems.

Conclusions:

Biodiversity is a key factor influencing the rate and pathways of organic matter decomposition.
Ecosystem functioning, particularly carbon cycling, is sensitive to alterations in biodiversity.
While mechanisms are shared, distinct environmental factors shape the specific impacts of biodiversity on decomposition in terrestrial versus aquatic systems.