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Published on: November 5, 2014
Microbial resource utilization traits and trade-offs: implications for community structure, functioning, and
Elena Litchman1, Kyle F Edwards2, Christopher A Klausmeier3
1W.K. Kellogg Biological Station - Michigan State University Hickory Corners, MI, USA ; Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University East Lansing, MI, USA.
Abstract:
Trait-based approaches provide a mechanistic framework to understand and predict the structure and functioning of microbial communities. Resource utilization traits and trade-offs are among key microbial traits that describe population dynamics and competition among microbes. Several important trade-offs have been identified for prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial taxa that define contrasting ecological strategies and contribute to species coexistence and diversity. The shape, dimensionality, and hierarchy of trade-offs may determine coexistence patterns and need to be better characterized. Laboratory measured resource utilization traits can be used to explain temporal and spatial structure and dynamics of natural microbial communities and predict biogeochemical impacts. Global environmental change can alter microbial community composition through altering resource utilization by different microbes and, consequently, may modify biogeochemical impacts of microbes.
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