Work

Biodiversity: So much more than legs and leaves

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: Biodiversity: So much more than legs and leavesMicroorganisms inhabit virtually every possible niche on Earth, including those at the outer envelope of survival.However, the focus of most conservation authorities and ecologists is the 'legs and leaves' side of biologythe 'macrobiology' that can be seen with the naked eye.There is little apparent concern for the preservation of microbial diversity, or of unique microbial habitats.Here we show examples of the astounding microbial diversity supported by South Africa's ecosystems and argue that because microbes constitute the vast majority of our planet's species they should be considered seriously in the future protection of our genetic resources.

Source: South African Journal of Science

DOI: 10.1590/sajs.2013/a0037

Authors: Don A. Cowan, Edward P. Rybicki, Marla I. Tuffin, Angel Valverde, Michael J. Wingfield

Institutions: University of Pretoria, University of Cape Town, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of the Western Cape, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute

Language: English

Topic: Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life on land

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: National Research Foundation