Biological invasions alter environmental microbiomes: A meta-analysis.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Microbiology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Biological invasions significantly impact agricultural and natural systems, causing economic losses and biodiversity reduction.
• While the effects of invasive species on macro-organisms are well-documented, their influence on environmental microbiomes remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize the global effects of biological invasions on environmental microbial communities.
• To re-analyze existing public data using a unified framework to assess the impact of non-native species on microbial diversity and structure.

Main Methods:

• Re-analysis of publicly available data on biological invasions and microbial communities.
• Application of a common analytical framework for global synthesis.

Main Results:

• Non-native species are associated with a significant loss of microbial diversity.
• Invasive species cause substantial shifts in the structure of microbial populations within ecosystems.
• The impact of biological invasions extends to both macro- and micro-biomes, suggesting pervasive effects.

Conclusions:

• Biological invasions have a more pervasive impact on native ecosystems than previously recognized, affecting microbial communities.
• Further research is needed to explore a wider range of environments, invaders, seasons, and geographical scales.
• Understanding the impact on microbiomes is crucial for a comprehensive assessment of invasion consequences.