Essay - The role of ecological theory in microbial ecology

James I. Prosser; Brendan J. M. Bohannan; Tom P. Curtis; Richard J. Ellis; Mary K. Firestone; Rob P. Freckleton; Jessica L. Green; Laura E. Green; Ken Killham; Jack J. Lennon; A. Mark Osborn; Martin Solan; Christopher J. van der Gast; J. Peter W. Young

doi:10.1038/nrmicro1643

Essay - The role of ecological theory in microbial ecology

James I. Prosser, Brendan J. M. Bohannan, Tom P. Curtis, Richard J. Ellis, Mary K. Firestone, Rob P. Freckleton, Jessica L. Green, Laura E. Green, Ken Killham, Jack J. Lennon, A. Mark Osborn, Martin Solan, Christopher J. van der Gast, J. Peter W. Young

Biology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Literature review › peer-review

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	384-392
Number of pages	9
Journal	Nature reviews. Microbiology
Volume	5
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1643
Publication status	Published - May 2007

Keywords

TERM EXPERIMENTAL EVOLUTION
SPECIES-AREA RELATIONSHIPS
BACTERIAL DIVERSITY
ESCHERICHIA-COLI
CONSTANT ENVIRONMENT
BIODIVERSITY
SOIL
MICROORGANISMS
PRODUCTIVITY
COMMUNITIES

Access to Document

10.1038/nrmicro1643

Cite this

Prosser, J. I., Bohannan, B. J. M., Curtis, T. P., Ellis, R. J., Firestone, M. K., Freckleton, R. P., Green, J. L., Green, L. E., Killham, K., Lennon, J. J., Osborn, A. M., Solan, M., van der Gast, C. J., & Young, J. P. W. (2007). Essay - The role of ecological theory in microbial ecology. Nature reviews. Microbiology, 5(5), 384-392. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1643

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title = "Essay - The role of ecological theory in microbial ecology",

abstract = "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.",

keywords = "TERM EXPERIMENTAL EVOLUTION, SPECIES-AREA RELATIONSHIPS, BACTERIAL DIVERSITY, ESCHERICHIA-COLI, CONSTANT ENVIRONMENT, BIODIVERSITY, SOIL, MICROORGANISMS, PRODUCTIVITY, COMMUNITIES",

author = "Prosser, {James I.} and Bohannan, {Brendan J. M.} and Curtis, {Tom P.} and Ellis, {Richard J.} and Firestone, {Mary K.} and Freckleton, {Rob P.} and Green, {Jessica L.} and Green, {Laura E.} and Ken Killham and Lennon, {Jack J.} and Osborn, {A. Mark} and Martin Solan and {van der Gast}, {Christopher J.} and Young, {J. Peter W.}",

year = "2007",

month = may,

doi = "10.1038/nrmicro1643",

language = "English",

volume = "5",

pages = "384--392",

journal = "Nature reviews. Microbiology",

issn = "1740-1534",

publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

number = "5",

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T1 - Essay - The role of ecological theory in microbial ecology

AU - Prosser, James I.

AU - Bohannan, Brendan J. M.

AU - Curtis, Tom P.

AU - Ellis, Richard J.

AU - Firestone, Mary K.

AU - Freckleton, Rob P.

AU - Green, Jessica L.

AU - Green, Laura E.

AU - Killham, Ken

AU - Lennon, Jack J.

AU - Osborn, A. Mark

AU - Solan, Martin

AU - van der Gast, Christopher J.

AU - Young, J. Peter W.

PY - 2007/5

Y1 - 2007/5

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - TERM EXPERIMENTAL EVOLUTION

KW - SPECIES-AREA RELATIONSHIPS

KW - BACTERIAL DIVERSITY

KW - ESCHERICHIA-COLI

KW - CONSTANT ENVIRONMENT

KW - BIODIVERSITY

KW - SOIL

KW - MICROORGANISMS

KW - PRODUCTIVITY

KW - COMMUNITIES

U2 - 10.1038/nrmicro1643

DO - 10.1038/nrmicro1643

M3 - Literature review

SN - 1740-1534

VL - 5

SP - 384

EP - 392

JO - Nature reviews. Microbiology

JF - Nature reviews. Microbiology

IS - 5

ER -