Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 20, 2026
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Methods for Characterizing the Co-development of Biofilm and Habitat Heterogeneity
Published on: March 11, 2015
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Cross-domain interactions confer stability to benthic biofilms in proglacial streams
Susheel Bhanu Busi1,2, Hannes Peter3, Jade Brandani3
1UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), Wallingford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.
Frontiers in Microbiomes
|March 19, 2026
Summary
Cross-domain interactions in glacier-fed stream biofilms are crucial for stability. Key bacterial and eukaryotic taxa, regardless of abundance, significantly impact network resilience, especially in recently deglaciated areas.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Microbiology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Cross-domain interactions are vital for biofilm success but poorly understood.
- Glacier retreat creates environmental gradients in Alpine streams, influencing community dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cross-domain interactions in stream biofilms draining proglacial floodplains.
- To assess the impact of environmental gradients on bacterial and eukaryotic community co-occurrence and network stability.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated co-occurrence patterns of bacteria and eukaryotes along environmental gradients in Swiss Alps stream biofilms.
- Quantified network topology and stability against fragmentation.
- Identified key taxa influencing community network stability.
Main Results:
- Network topology was independent of stream type and environmental stability.
- Network stability against fragmentation was higher in streams draining recently deglaciated terrain.
- Bacteria, photoautotrophs, and fungi were central to network stability, with key taxa not always being abundant.
Conclusions:
- Individual taxa play a critical role in determining the microbial community stability of glacier-fed streams.
- Functional contributions, not just abundance, determine the importance of taxa in these ecosystems.
- Understanding these cross-domain interactions is essential for predicting biofilm resilience in changing environments.
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