Simple models combining competition, defence and resource availability have broad implications in pelagic microbial food webs

Ecology Letters
Selina VågeT F Thingstad

Abstract

In food webs, interactions between competition and defence control the partitioning of limiting resources. As a result, simple models of these interactions contain links between biogeochemistry, diversity, food web structure and ecosystem function. Working at hierarchical levels, these mechanisms also produce self-similarity and therefore suggest how complexity can be generated from repeated application of simple underlying principles. Reviewing theoretical and experimental literature relevant to the marine photic zone, we argue that there is a wide spectrum of phenomena, including single cell activity of prokaryotes, microbial biodiversity at different levels of resolution, ecosystem functioning, regional biogeochemical features and evolution at different timescales; that all can be understood as variations over a common principle, summarised in what has been termed the 'Killing-the-Winner' (KtW) motif. Considering food webs as assemblages of such motifs may thus allow for a more integrated approach to aquatic microbial ecology.

References

Jun 1, 1991·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·T B Britschgi, S J Giovannoni
May 1, 1993·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·J A FuhrmanA A Davis
Jun 29, 2002·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Ake HagströmUlla Li Zweifel
Dec 20, 2002·Nature·Robert M MorrisStephen J Giovannoni
Oct 7, 2003·Annual Review of Microbiology·Michael S Rappé, Stephen J Giovannoni
Dec 23, 2003·Environmental Microbiology·Markus G Weinbauer, Fereidoun Rassoulzadegan
Jul 9, 2004·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Rex R MalmstromDavid L Kirchman
Jul 17, 2004·Science·Paul G FalkowskiF J R Taylor
Jan 16, 2007·Environmental Microbiology·T Bouvier, P A del Giorgio
Mar 14, 2007·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Kenneth T FrankNancy L Shackell
Mar 31, 2007·Science·Michael J FollowsSallie W Chisholm
Sep 15, 2007·Nature Reviews. Microbiology·Curtis A Suttle
Sep 18, 2007·FEMS Microbiology Ecology·Val H Smith
Oct 17, 2009·Nature Reviews. Microbiology·Francisco Rodriguez-ValeraAlex Mira
Dec 19, 2009·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Pierre E GalandConnie Lovejoy
Dec 31, 2010·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Nicholas J Butterfield
Feb 19, 2011·Annual Review of Marine Science·Michael J Follows, Stephanie Dutkiewicz
Jun 29, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Cesar O FloresJoshua S Weitz
Jul 20, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Barbara J CampbellDavid L Kirchman
Jan 31, 2012·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Mrinalini P NikradD L Kirchman
Feb 15, 2013·Nature·Yanlin ZhaoStephen J Giovannoni
May 16, 2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·T Frede ThingstadJarl Giske
May 27, 2014·The ISME Journal·Jan O HaerterKim Sneppen
Jun 10, 2014·Nature Reviews. Microbiology·John van der OostBlake Wiedenheft
Dec 23, 2014·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Stéphanie PériquetEloy Revilla
Apr 12, 2015·Current Opinion in Microbiology·Isabel FerreraJosep M Gasol
May 23, 2015·Science·Colomban de VargasEric Karsenti
Oct 21, 2015·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Elizabeth A BellWendy L Mao
Feb 24, 2016·Ecology Letters·Jens FrickelLutz Becks
Mar 17, 2016·Nature·B KnowlesF Rohwer
Apr 27, 2016·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Kaarle J ParikkaStéphan Jacquet
Aug 31, 2016·Nature Microbiology·Charles H WigingtonJoshua S Weitz

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 11, 2019·Environmental Microbiology·David TalmyMichael J Follows
Sep 19, 2019·The ISME Journal·Tron Frede Thingstad, Selina Våge
Jun 17, 2020·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Alfred BurianMonika Winder
Jan 13, 2021·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Lasse Tor Nielsen, Thomas Kiørboe

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.