The role of ecological theory in microbial ecology.
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.
Prosser
James I
JI
School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, Scotland, UK. j.prosser@abdn.ac.uk
Bohannan
Brendan J M
BJ
Curtis
Tom P
TP
Ellis
Richard J
RJ
Firestone
Mary K
MK
Freckleton
Rob P
RP
Green
Jessica L
JL
Green
Laura E
LE
Killham
Ken
K
Lennon
Jack J
JJ
Osborn
A Mark
AM
Solan
Martin
M
van der Gast
Christopher J
CJ
Young
J Peter W
JP
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