A community genetics perspective: opportunities for the coming decade

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Community genetics bridges ecology and evolution by examining gene-ecosystem links.
• Over a decade of research has seen empirical studies and the rise of eco-evolutionary dynamics.
• Ecology increasingly incorporates intraspecific variation, influenced by community genetics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review key findings in community genetics over the past 12 years.
• To assess the impact of individual genes on entire ecosystems.
• To identify remaining knowledge gaps and future research directions in the field.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of empirical studies and common garden experiments.
• Review of research on eco-evolutionary dynamics.
• Analysis of the integration of intraspecific variation in ecological studies.

Main Results:

• Community genetics has established links between genes and ecosystems.
• Intraspecific variation is increasingly recognized in ecological research.
• The field has spurred significant advancements in understanding eco-evolutionary processes.

Conclusions:

• Community genetics has demonstrated that genes can indeed affect ecosystems.
• Further research is needed to address remaining questions and refine the field's scope.
• The integration of genetic and ecological perspectives continues to evolve, promising future insights.