Microbial endemism: Does phosphorus limitation enhance speciation?

Valeria Souza; Luis E. Eguiarte; Janet Siefert; James J. Elser

doi:10.1038/nrmicro1917

Microbial endemism: Does phosphorus limitation enhance speciation?

Valeria Souza, Luis E. Eguiarte, Janet Siefert, James J. Elser

Flathead Lake Biological Station

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

73 Scopus citations

Abstract

There is increasing evidence for the existence of unique ecosystems that are dominated by locally adapted microbiota which harbour distinct lineages and biological capabilities, much like the macrobiota of Darwin's Galapagos Islands. As a primary example of such a system, we highlight key discoveries from the Cuatro Ciénegas basin in Mexico. We argue that high microbial endemism requires a combination of geographical isolation, long-term continuity and mechanisms for reducing the intensity of horizontal gene transfer (HGT). We also propose that strong phosphorus limitation has an important role in microbial diversification by reducing the intensity of HGT.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	559-564
Number of pages	6
Journal	Nature Reviews Microbiology
Volume	6
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1917
State	Published - Jul 2008

Funding

We acknowledge M. Breitbart, M. Travisano, L. Falcon, A. Escalante and G. Olmedo who worked with us on the conceptual framework of this paper. This work has been supported by NASA, SEMARNAT/CONACyT CO1-0237, CONACyT 44673Q, CONABIO and AE015. We thank A. Cruz, L. Espinosa-Asuar and M. Kyle for expert technical assistance. The cooperation, logistics and support of CONAP/APFF Cuatro Cienegas, The Nature Conservancy and Pronatura Noreste were paramount for this research.

Funders	Funder number
National Aeronautics and Space Administration	CO1-0237
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia Mexico	44673Q
AE015

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1038/nrmicro1917

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title = "Microbial endemism: Does phosphorus limitation enhance speciation?",

abstract = "There is increasing evidence for the existence of unique ecosystems that are dominated by locally adapted microbiota which harbour distinct lineages and biological capabilities, much like the macrobiota of Darwin's Galapagos Islands. As a primary example of such a system, we highlight key discoveries from the Cuatro Ci{\'e}negas basin in Mexico. We argue that high microbial endemism requires a combination of geographical isolation, long-term continuity and mechanisms for reducing the intensity of horizontal gene transfer (HGT). We also propose that strong phosphorus limitation has an important role in microbial diversification by reducing the intensity of HGT.",

author = "Valeria Souza and Eguiarte, \{Luis E.\} and Janet Siefert and Elser, \{James J.\}",

note = "Funding Information: We acknowledge M. Breitbart, M. Travisano, L. Falcon, A. Escalante and G. Olmedo who worked with us on the conceptual framework of this paper. This work has been supported by NASA, SEMARNAT/CONACyT CO1-0237, CONACyT 44673Q, CONABIO and AE015. We thank A. Cruz, L. Espinosa-Asuar and M. Kyle for expert technical assistance. The cooperation, logistics and support of CONAP/APFF Cuatro Cienegas, The Nature Conservancy and Pronatura Noreste were paramount for this research.",

year = "2008",

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doi = "10.1038/nrmicro1917",

language = "English",

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pages = "559--564",

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AU - Souza, Valeria

AU - Eguiarte, Luis E.

AU - Siefert, Janet

AU - Elser, James J.

N1 - Funding Information: We acknowledge M. Breitbart, M. Travisano, L. Falcon, A. Escalante and G. Olmedo who worked with us on the conceptual framework of this paper. This work has been supported by NASA, SEMARNAT/CONACyT CO1-0237, CONACyT 44673Q, CONABIO and AE015. We thank A. Cruz, L. Espinosa-Asuar and M. Kyle for expert technical assistance. The cooperation, logistics and support of CONAP/APFF Cuatro Cienegas, The Nature Conservancy and Pronatura Noreste were paramount for this research.

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AB - There is increasing evidence for the existence of unique ecosystems that are dominated by locally adapted microbiota which harbour distinct lineages and biological capabilities, much like the macrobiota of Darwin's Galapagos Islands. As a primary example of such a system, we highlight key discoveries from the Cuatro Ciénegas basin in Mexico. We argue that high microbial endemism requires a combination of geographical isolation, long-term continuity and mechanisms for reducing the intensity of horizontal gene transfer (HGT). We also propose that strong phosphorus limitation has an important role in microbial diversification by reducing the intensity of HGT.

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DO - 10.1038/nrmicro1917

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JF - Nature Reviews Microbiology

IS - 7

ER -

Microbial endemism: Does phosphorus limitation enhance speciation?

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

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