The microbial rare biosphere: current concepts, methods and ecological principles

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Pascoal, F (Author) Other; Costa, R (Author) Other; Magalhaes, C (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: FEMS Microbiology Ecology

Vol. 97

ISSN: 0168-6496

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 45 Citations

Scopus - 44 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00T-EG0

DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiaa227

Abstract (EN): Our ability to describe the highly diverse pool of low abundance populations present in natural microbial communities is increasing at an unprecedented pace. Yet we currently lack an integrative view of the key taxa, functions and metabolic activity which make-up this communal pool, usually referred to as the 'rare biosphere', across the domains of life. In this context, this review examines the microbial rare biosphere in its broader sense, providing an historical perspective on representative studies which enabled to bridge the concept from macroecology to microbial ecology. It then addresses our current knowledge of the prokaryotic rare biosphere, and covers emerging insights into the ecology, taxonomy and evolution of low abundance microeukaryotic, viral and host-associated communities. We also review recent methodological advances and provide a synthetic overview on how the rare biosphere fits into different conceptual models used to explain microbial community assembly mechanisms, composition and function.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 15