title: The interplay between microevolution and community structure in microbial populations.
abstract: The structure of microbial communities is key to their functionality. However, this structure is likely to be influenced by adaptive genetic change in members of the community, which can occur over a matter of days. Changes in community structure can in turn influence the evolutionary trajectories of species within the community, further altering community structure. Microbial communities provide evidence for this interplay between rapid evolution and community structure. To date, studies are primarily limited to simple in vitro systems, but we suggest similar processes are inevitably operating in both natural and derived communities, which are important for biotechnology.
authors.affiliation: Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, United Kingdom. eso201@exeter.ac.uk
authors.forename: Siobhán
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: Angus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buckling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005075:Biological Evolution; D017753:Ecosystem; D006801:Humans