title: Extending genomics to natural communities and ecosystems.
abstract: An important step in the integration of ecology and genomics is the progression from molecular studies of relatively simple model systems to complex field systems. The recent availability of sequenced genomes from key plants is leading to a new understanding of the molecular drivers of community composition and ecosystem processes. As genome sequences accumulate for species that form intimate associations in nature, a detailed view may emerge as to how these associations cause changes among species at the nucleotide level. This advance could dramatically alter views about the structure and evolution of communities and ecosystems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA. Thomas.Whitham@nau.edu
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Whitham
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Difazio
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schweitzer
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shuster
authors.forename: Gery J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.forename: Joseph K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Woolbright
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D017753:Ecosystem; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D018745:Genome, Plant; D023281:Genomics; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013559:Symbiosis