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Journal article
Microbes as Engines of Ecosystem Function: When Does Community Structure Enhance Predictions of Ecosystem Processes?
Frontiers in microbiology, Vol.7, 214
2016
PMID: 26941732
Abstract
Microorganisms are vital in mediating the earth’s biogeochemical cycles; yet, despite our rapidly increasing ability to explore complex environmental microbial communities, the relationship between microbial community structure and ecosystem processes remains poorly understood. Here, we address a fundamental and unanswered question in microbial ecology: ‘When do we need to understand microbial community structure to accurately predict function?’ We present a statistical analysis investigating the value of environmental data and microbial community structure independently and in combination for explaining rates of carbon and nitrogen cycling processes within 82 global datasets. Environmental variables were the strongest predictors of process rates but left 44% of variation unexplained on average, suggesting the potential for microbial data to increase model accuracy. Although only 29% of our datasets were significantly improved by adding information on microbial community structure, we observed improvement in models of processes mediated by narrow phylogenetic guilds via functional gene data, and conversely, improvement in models of facultative microbial processes via community diversity metrics. Our results also suggest that microbial diversity can strengthen predictions of respiration rates beyond microbial biomass parameters, as 53% of models were improved by incorporating both sets of predictors compared to 35% by microbial biomass alone. Our analysis represents the first comprehensive analysis of research examining links between microbial community structure and ecosystem function. Taken together, our results indicate that a greater understanding of microbial communities informed by ecological principles may enhance our ability to predict ecosystem process rates relative to assessments based on environmental variables and microbial physiology.
Details
- Title
- Microbes as Engines of Ecosystem Function: When Does Community Structure Enhance Predictions of Ecosystem Processes?
- Authors/Creators
- Emily B. Graham - Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryJoseph E. Knelman - University of Colorado BoulderAndreas Schindlbacher - Department of Forest Ecology, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Bundesforschungs- und Ausbildungszentrum für WaldSteven Siciliano - University of SaskatchewanMarc Breulmann - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental ResearchAnthony Yannarell - University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignJ. M. Beman - University of California, MercedGuy Abell - Flinders UniversityLaurent Philippot - Institut National de la Recherche AgronomiqueJames Prosser - University of AberdeenArnaud Foulquier - Irstea, UR MALY, Centre de Lyon-VilleurbanneJorge C. Yuste - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasHelen C. Glanville - Bangor UniversityDavey L. Jones - Bangor UniversityRoey Angel - University of ViennaJanne Salminen - Häme University of Applied SciencesRyan J. Newton - University of Wisconsin–MilwaukeeHelmut Bürgmann - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyLachlan J. Ingram - The University of SydneyUte Hamer - University of MünsterHenri M. P. Siljanen - University of Eastern FinlandKrista Peltoniemi - Natural Resources InstituteKarin Potthast - Technische Universität DresdenLluís Bañeras - Universitat de GironaMartin Hartmann - Institute for SustainabilitySamiran Banerjee - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationRi-Qing Yu - The University of Texas at TylerGeraldine Nogaro - EDF Energy North AmericaAndreas Richter - University of ViennaMarianne Koranda - University of ViennaSarah C. Castle - University of MontanaMarta Goberna - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasBongkeun Song - William & MaryAmitava Chatterjee - North Dakota State UniversityOlga C. Nunes - Universidade do PortoAna R. Lopes - LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environmental, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do PortoYiping Cao - Southern California Coastal Water Research ProjectAurore Kaisermann - Institut National de la Recherche AgronomiqueSara Hallin - Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesMichael S. Strickland - Virginia TechJordi Garcia-Pausas - Forest Science and Technology Centre of CataloniaJosep Barba - Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals, Cerdanyola del VallèsHojeong Kang - Yonsei UniversityKazuo Isobe - The University of TokyoSokratis Papaspyrou - Universidad de CádizRoberta Pastorelli - Research Centre for Agrobiology and PedologyAlessandra Lagomarsino - Research Centre for Agrobiology and PedologyEva S. Lindström - Uppsala UniversityNathan Basiliko - Laurentian UniversityDiana R. Nemergut - Duke UniversityPacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in microbiology, Vol.7, 214
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media S.A
- Grant note
- DEB-1221215 / National Science Foundation
- Identifiers
- 991005560314707891
- Copyright
- © 2016 Graham et al.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Industry collaboration
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- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.45 Soil Science
- 3.45.112 Soil Carbon Dynamics
- Web Of Science research areas
- Microbiology
- ESI research areas
- Microbiology