Refocusing the microbial rare biosphere concept through a functional lens.
Trends Ecol Evol
; 2024 Jul 09.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38987022
ABSTRACT
The influential concept of the rare biosphere in microbial ecology has underscored the importance of taxa occurring at low abundances yet potentially playing key roles in communities and ecosystems. Here, we refocus the concept of rare biosphere through a functional trait-based lens and provide a framework to characterize microbial functional rarity, a combination of numerical scarcity across space or time and trait distinctiveness. We demonstrate how this novel interpretation of the rare biosphere, rooted in microbial functions, can enhance our mechanistic understanding of microbial community structure. It also sheds light on functionally distinct microbes, directing conservation efforts towards taxa harboring rare yet ecologically crucial functions.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
Trends Ecol Evol
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Country of publication:
Reino Unido