title: The role of ecological theory in microbial ecology.
abstract: Microbial ecology is currently undergoing a revolution, with repercussions spreading throughout microbiology, ecology and ecosystem science. The rapid accumulation of molecular data is uncovering vast diversity, abundant uncultivated microbial groups and novel microbial functions. This accumulation of data requires the application of theory to provide organization, structure, mechanistic insight and, ultimately, predictive power that is of practical value, but the application of theory in microbial ecology is currently very limited. Here we argue that the full potential of the ongoing revolution will not be realized if research is not directed and driven by theory, and that the generality of established ecological theory must be tested using microbial systems.
authors: School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, Scotland, UK. j.prosser@abdn.ac.uk
authors: James I
authors: JI
authors: Prosser
authors: Brendan J M
authors: BJ
authors: Bohannan
authors: Tom P
authors: TP
authors: Curtis
authors: Richard J
authors: RJ
authors: Ellis
authors: Mary K
authors: MK
authors: Firestone
authors: Rob P
authors: RP
authors: Freckleton
authors: Jessica L
authors: JL
authors: Green
authors: Laura E
authors: LE
authors: Green
authors: Ken
authors: K
authors: Killham
authors: Jack J
authors: JJ
authors: Lennon
authors: A Mark
authors: AM
authors: Osborn
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Solan
authors: Christopher J
authors: CJ
authors: van der Gast
authors: J Peter W
authors: JP
authors: Young
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D004463:Ecology; D017753:Ecosystem; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D016944:Sulfolobus / Q000254:growth & development; D013598:Systems Theory; D014871:Water Microbiology