Work

Drivers of Microbiome Biodiversity: A Review of General Rules, Feces, and Ignorance

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: The alpha diversity of ecologic communities is affected by many biotic and abiotic drivers and, in turn, affects ecosystem functioning. Yet, patterns of alpha diversity in host-associated microbial communities (microbiomes) are poorly studied and the appropriateness of general theory is untested. Expanding diversity theory to include microbiomes is essential as diversity is a frequently cited metric of their status. Here, we review and newly analyze reports of alpha diversity for animal gut microbiomes. We demonstrate that both diet and body size affect diversity in the gut but that gut physiology (fermenter versus simple) is the most important driver. We also assess the advantages of various diversity metrics. The importance of diversity in microbiomes is often assumed but has not been tested outright. Therefore, we close by discussing how to integrate microbiomes into the field of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning to more clearly understand when and why a host supports diverse microbial communities.

Source: mBio

DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01294-18

Authors: Aspen T. Reese, Robert R. Dunn

Institutions: Harvard University, University of Copenhagen, North Carolina State University, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Natural History Museum of Denmark

Language: English

Topic: Gut microbiota and health

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,900

Funder: Deutsches Zentrum für integrative Biodiversitätsforschung Halle-Jena-Leipzig