Journal
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Volume 375, Issue 1798, Pages -Publisher
ROYAL SOC
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0248
Keywords
eco-evolutionary dynamics; lateral gene transfer; experimental community evolution; metagenomics
Categories
Funding
- European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant [747527]
- Marie Curie Actions (MSCA) [747527] Funding Source: Marie Curie Actions (MSCA)
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The challenge of moving beyond descriptions of microbial community composition to the point where understanding underlying eco-evolutionary dynamics emerges is daunting. While it is tempting to simplify through use of model communities composed of a small number of types, there is a risk that such strategies fail to capture processes that might be specific and intrinsic to complexity of the community itself. Here, we describe approaches that embrace this complexity and show that, in combination with metagenomic strategies, dynamical insight is increasingly possible. Arising from these studies is mounting evidence of rapid eco-evolutionary change among lineages and a sense that processes, particularly those mediated by horizontal gene transfer, not only are integral to system function, but are central to long-term persistence. That such dynamic, systems-level insight is now possible, means that the study and manipulation of microbial communities can move to new levels of inquiry. This article is part of the theme issue 'Conceptual challenges in microbial community ecology'.
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