A Hydration-Based Biophysical Index for the Onset of Soil Microbial Coexistence

Open access
Date
2012-11-22Type
- Journal Article
Citations
Cited 24 times in
Web of Science
Cited 23 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
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Abstract
Mechanistic exploration of the origins of the unparalleled soil microbial biodiversity represents a vast and uncharted scientific frontier. Quantification of candidate mechanisms that promote and sustain such diversity must be linked with microbial functions and measurable biophysical interactions at appropriate scales. We report a novel microbial coexistence index (CI) that links macroscopic soil hydration conditions with microscale aquatic habitat fragmentation that impose restrictions on cell dispersion and growth rates of competing microbial populations cohabiting soil surfaces. The index predicts a surprisingly narrow range of soil hydration conditions that suppress microbial coexistence; and for most natural conditions found in soil hydration supports coexistence. The critical hydration conditions and relative abundances of competing species are consistent with limited experimental observations and with individual-based model simulations. The proposed metric offers a means for systematic evaluation of factors that regulate microbial coexistence in an ecologically consistent fashion. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000059144Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Scientific ReportsVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
Nature Publishing GroupSubject
Soil microbiology; Microbial ecology; Environmental sciences; BiophysicsOrganisational unit
03812 - Or, Dani (emeritus) / Or, Dani (emeritus)
Funding
132154 - Quantifying Biophysical Processes Promoting Microbial Diversity in Soil (SNF)
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Show all metadata
Citations
Cited 24 times in
Web of Science
Cited 23 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics