Evolution of species interactions determines microbial community productivity in new environments

Open access
Date
2015Type
- Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics
Abstract
Diversity generally increases ecosystem productivity over short timescales. Over longer timescales, both ecological and evolutionary responses to new environments could alter productivity and diversity–productivity relationships. In turn, diversity might affect how component species adapt to new conditions. We tested these ideas by culturing artificial microbial communities containing between 1 and 12 species in three different environments for ∼60 generations. The relationship between community yields and diversity became steeper over time in one environment. This occurred despite a general tendency for the separate yields of isolates of constituent species to be lower at the end if they had evolved in a more diverse community. Statistical comparisons of community and species yields showed that species interactions had evolved to be less negative over time, especially in more diverse communities. Diversity and evolution therefore interacted to enhance community productivity in a new environment. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000094271Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
The ISME JournalVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
NatureOrganisational unit
03939 - Velicer, Gregory J. / Velicer, Gregory J.
More
Show all metadata
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics