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Published on: July 30, 2019
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Microbial trait of large body size facilitates ecosystem performance
Lingjuan Li1, Qun Wang2, Xiangzhen Li3
1Agricultural Microbial Agents Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China; College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China.
Cell Reports
|February 25, 2026
Summary
Microbial body size influences ecosystem function. Larger microbial communities enhance methane production and substance degradation, offering a new way to manage ecosystem services.
Area of Science:
- Microbial ecology
- Environmental microbiology
- Biogeochemistry
Background:
- Microbial body size is a key trait influencing ecological roles.
- The link between microbial community size and ecosystem performance is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between microbial community-level body size and anaerobic digestion (AD) performance.
- To explore how body size affects microbial interconnections, functional diversity, and gene expression.
Main Methods:
- Utilized anaerobic digestion as a model ecosystem.
- Employed 16S rRNA gene and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, alongside metatranscriptomic sequencing.
- Analyzed both complex (swine manure) and simplified substrates.
Main Results:
- Microbial community-level body size showed a positive correlation with methane (CH4) production.
- Larger body size was associated with increased microbial interconnections and functional diversity.
- Higher gene expression in methane production and substance degradation pathways was observed with larger body sizes.
Conclusions:
- Microbial body size is a significant factor in predicting and managing ecosystem functions.
- This finding has implications for optimizing microorganism-driven services in various ecosystems.
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