The use of model <span class='italic'>Pseudomonas fluorescens</span> populations to study the causes and consequences of microbial diversity

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511541926.006

5 - The use of model Pseudomonas fluorescens populations to study the causes and consequences of microbial diversity

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 September 2009

David J. Hodgson and

Edited by

Michael Usher and

Paul B. Rainey: Affiliation:
University of Auckland and University of Oxford
Michael Brockhurst: Affiliation:
University of Oxford
Angus Buckling: Affiliation:
University of Bath
David J. Hodgson: Affiliation:
University of Exeter
Rees Kassen: Affiliation:
University of Oxford
Richard Bardgett: Affiliation:
Lancaster University
Michael Usher: Affiliation:
University of Stirling
David Hopkins: Affiliation:
University of Stirling

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Summary

SUMMARY

The microbial world is tremendously diverse. This fact was established in the early days of microbiology and is supported by ever increasing lists of 16S rDNA sequences and more recently by whole genome comparisons.
It is now time to divert attention from lists of organisms – even though these lists are undoubtedly incomplete – to questions such as the evolutionary and ecological causes of diversity; the ecological factors maintaining diversity and the significance of diversity in terms of ecosystem function.
Recognising the inherent difficulties of addressing these questions within the soil environment we have chosen to use experimental populations of bacteria maintained in simple laboratory environments. These populations have allowed us to reduce complexity to the point where insights into mechanistic processes become possible and have permitted rigorous empirical tests of fundamental ecological and evolutionary concepts.
Particularly significant has been clear demonstrations of the importance of ecological opportunity and competition in driving diversification of microbial populations. In addition, it has been possible to show how productivity, disturbance and predation can shape patterns of diversity by affecting the outcome of competition and how the observed patterns of diversity depend upon environmental complexity.
Most recently we have begun to explore the consequences of microbial diversity in terms of ecosystem properties and have been able to show, at a mechanistic level, how diversity, productivity and invasibility are connected.

Introduction

Recent technological advances have confirmed a long-held suspicion that soils are biologically diverse.

Type: Chapter
Information: Biological Diversity and Function in Soils , pp. 83 - 99

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511541926.006 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2005

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5 - The use of model Pseudomonas fluorescens populations to study the causes and consequences of microbial diversity

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