Microbial biogeography: putting microorganisms on the map.
We review the biogeography of microorganisms in light of the biogeography of macroorganisms. A large body of research supports the idea that free-living microbial taxa exhibit biogeographic patterns. Current evidence confirms that, as proposed by the Baas-Becking hypothesis, 'the environment selects' and is, in part, responsible for spatial variation in microbial diversity. However, recent studies also dispute the idea that 'everything is everywhere'. We also consider how the processes that generate and maintain biogeographic patterns in macroorganisms could operate in the microbial world.
Martiny
Jennifer B Hughes
JB
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 80 Waterman Street, BOX G-W, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA. jennifer_martiny@brown.edu
Bohannan
Brendan J M
BJ
Brown
James H
JH
Colwell
Robert K
RK
Fuhrman
Jed A
JA
Green
Jessica L
JL
Horner-Devine
M Claire
MC
Kane
Matthew
M
Krumins
Jennifer Adams
JA
Kuske
Cheryl R
CR
Morin
Peter J
PJ
Naeem
Shahid
S
Ovreås
Lise
L
Reysenbach
Anna-Louise
AL
Smith
Val H
VH
Staley
James T
JT
D001105:Archaea; D001419:Bacteria; D044822:Biodiversity; D017753:Ecosystem; D005658:Fungi; D005843:Geography