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Updated: May 23, 2026
09:21
Methods for Characterizing the Co-development of Biofilm and Habitat Heterogeneity
Published on: March 11, 2015
Bacterial biofilms in a 'genes-to-ecosystems' context
1Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, #4200-6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T1Z4. crutsinger@zoology.ubc.ca
Molecular Ecology
|March 27, 2012
Summary
Intraspecific genetic diversity in bacterial biofilms enhances ecosystem functioning. Mixtures of biofilm variants showed greater resistance to grazing than monocultures, driven by genetic variation.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Microbial Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Intraspecific genetic diversity is increasingly recognized for its role in community assembly and ecosystem functioning.
- Understanding how genetic variation within a species impacts ecological interactions is a growing area of research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ecological consequences of intraspecific genetic variation in bacterial biofilms.
- To determine if genetic variants of Serratia marcescens biofilms exhibit complementarity and influence resistance to predation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized bacterial biofilms of Serratia marcescens with heritable phenotypic variation.
- Assessed the resistance of monocultures versus mixed assemblages of biofilm variants to protozoan grazing.
- Linked phenotypic variation to a specific single nucleotide polymorphism in a regulatory gene.
Main Results:
- Bacterial biofilm variants displayed heritable phenotypic differences.
- Mixed assemblages of biofilm variants were significantly more resistant to protozoan grazing than monocultures.
- A single nucleotide polymorphism was identified as the genetic basis for phenotype variation.
Conclusions:
- Intraspecific genetic diversity can drive ecological interactions and ecosystem functioning.
- Minimal genetic changes can lead to substantial shifts in interspecific ecological interactions.
- Bacterial biofilm diversity enhances community resilience against grazers.
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