Harnessing the microbiome to prevent global biodiversity loss

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Microbiology

Background:

• Global biodiversity loss and species extinction threaten ecosystem functions and human health.
• Microbiome-targeted interventions (e.g., probiotics, microbiome transplants) show potential for ecological restoration.
• There is an urgent need for practical strategies to implement these interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize concepts, challenges, and ethics of microbiome stewardship for ecosystem rehabilitation.
• To propose a framework for applying probiotics in environmental and wildlife contexts.
• To guide the upscaling of microbiome interventions by balancing risks and benefits.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of current concepts in microbiome stewardship.
• Development of a real-world application framework for environmental probiotics.
• Analysis of ethical considerations and risk-benefit assessments for intervention upscaling.

Main Results:

• Microbiome stewardship is a key strategy for rehabilitating organisms and ecosystem functions.
• A practical framework is proposed for guiding the application and upscaling of environmental probiotics.
• The framework emphasizes careful management, risk assessment, and ethical considerations.

Conclusions:

• Microbiome-targeted interventions are crucial for reversing biodiversity loss.
• Implementing microbiome stewardship requires a structured approach, balancing potential risks with the severe consequences of inaction.
• The proposed framework provides guidance for responsible and effective ecological rehabilitation.