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...

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Published inNature reviews. Microbiology Vol. 5; no. 5; pp. 384 - 392
Main Authors Prosser, James I, Bohannan, Brendan J. M, Curtis, Tom P, Ellis, Richard J, Firestone, Mary K, Freckleton, Rob P, Green, Jessica L, Green, Laura E, Killham, Ken, Lennon, Jack J, Osborn, A. Mark, Solan, Martin, van der Gast, Christopher J, Young, J. Peter W
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Nature Publishing Group 01.05.2007
Subjects
Animals
Bacteria - classification
Bacteria - genetics
Bacteria - growth & development
Biogeochemistry
Climate change
Ecologists
Ecology
Ecosystem
Geologic Sediments - microbiology
Microorganisms
Physiology
Species Specificity
Sulfolobus - growth & development
Systems Theory
Water Microbiology
Water treatment
United Kingdom
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Summary: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.
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ISSN:1740-1526
1740-1534
DOI:10.1038/nrmicro1643