Article
Ecology
Clara Rodriguez-Arribas, Isabel Martinez, Gregorio Aragon, Carlos Zamorano-Elgueta, Lohengrin Cavieres, Maria Prieto
Summary: This study aimed to assess specialization patterns and drivers in lichen symbiosis, analyzing the interaction between the principal fungus and the associated Nostoc. Results showed that environmental factors shaped the composition of these communities, limiting cyanobiont availability and affecting the degree of specialization. The study suggests considering the entire community and widening the spatial scale to understand factors determining specialization.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Kayla S. Stoy, Joselyne Chavez, Valeria De Las Casas, Venkat Talla, Aileen Berasategui, Levi T. Morran, Nicole M. Gerardo
Summary: Many interspecific interactions are influenced by coevolution, but the role of coevolution in the maintenance of horizontally transmitted symbioses is unclear. This study tested for evidence of pairwise coevolution in an insect-bacteria symbiosis and found no evidence of reciprocal specialization between hosts and symbionts. The results suggest that generalist dynamics and diffuse coevolution may be more important in this interaction.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michael C. Singer, Camille Parmesan
Summary: As species' poleward range limits expand under climate change, generalists are expected to expand their ranges faster than specialists. Through long-term studies, it has been found that colonization events can lead to an increase in diet breadth as a result of preference diversification among individuals, potentially caused by cryptic genetic variation or host shifts. Range expansions can lead to increases in population-level diet breadths and may drive specialization, influencing the persistence of populations at expanding range margins.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Carlo L. Seifert, Patrick Strutzenberger, Axel Hausmann, Konrad Fiedler
Summary: Our study found that the range size and fundamental dietary breadth of European geometrid moths vary with latitude, and these two characteristics may be drivers of increased species richness towards lower latitudes. This supports the idea that both characteristics should be studied simultaneously in order to uncover mechanisms structuring biodiversity patterns at the macroecological scale.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ying Hu, Huichun Wang, Huiping Jia, Maodeji Pen, Nian Liu, Jingjing Wei, Biyao Zhou
Summary: This study examines the classical ecological theories of niche and interspecific relationships and analyzes the niche characteristics and interspecies associations of plant communities at different levels of desertification. The results indicate that the ecological niche width and overlap of plants are not consistently related to environmental changes.
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Katy D. Heath, Rebecca T. Batstone, Mario Ceron Romero, John G. McMullen
Summary: In this study, genomics was used to investigate the diversity of mobile genetic elements carrying symbiosis genes in natural populations of Bradyrhizobium. The findings provide insights into the novel mechanisms for generating and maintaining diversity in these ecologically and economically important mutualisms.
Article
Plant Sciences
Eduardo K. Nery, Mayara K. Caddah, Matheus F. Santos, Anselmo Nogueira
Summary: The Atlantic Forest domain favors the evolution of ecological specialization and the formation of endemic species. Species in this domain face greater environmental heterogeneity and are more specialized, leading to smaller geographical ranges and promoting endemism.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
H. Hespanhol, K. Cezon, J. Munoz, R. G. Mateo, J. Goncalves
Summary: This study aims to develop vulnerability indices for bryophyte communities to climate change and measures the vulnerability based on niche and spatial metrics. The results show that saxicolous bryophyte communities in the high mountains of the Iberian Peninsula have the highest vulnerability to climate change.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Cheng Sun, Long Li, Xiaoyu Dong, Fucang Qin, Zhenqi Yang
Summary: The ecological niche characteristics of understory herbaceous species in plantation forests are crucial for maintaining the stability and sustainable development of these ecosystems. This study explores these characteristics and their influencing factors in Pinus tabulaeformis plantations in the Loess Plateau. The canopy density and geographical slope play major roles in determining the ecological niche of these species.
Article
Ecology
Damian J. Hernandez, Kasey N. Kiesewetter, Brianna K. Almeida, Daniel Revillini, Michelle E. Afkhami
Summary: Analyses of soil microbiomes across the United States reveal widespread multidimensional specialization and generalization, which have significant impacts on evolutionary trajectories, microbial dominance, and community roles. This study highlights the importance of understanding the multidimensional niche strategies of soil prokaryotes for ecosystem functioning and management.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erika C. Johnston, Ross Cunning, Scott C. Burgess
Summary: The study reveals the cophylogeny between corals and their algal symbionts, supporting the presence of five coral species hosting different types of algae in the Mo'orea reef. The phylogenies of the host corals and algae are closely linked, suggesting that symbiont speciation is influenced by niche diversification in the host.
Article
Ecology
Pauline Stephan, Bernat Bramon Mora, Jake M. Alexander
Summary: Research has shown that positive interactions can influence species' geographic or ecological ranges through a diversity of mechanisms. Obligate interactions, especially obligate mutualisms, tend to constrain the ranges of one or both partners, while facultative positive interactions tend to widen ranges. However, there is more variation in the effects of facultative interactions on range limits, highlighting important context-dependencies.
Review
Biology
Lesley T. Lancaster
Summary: The study of global correlations between range size and niche breadth and their relationship to latitude has intrigued ecologists and biogeographers. This article introduces the range shift-niche breadth hypothesis, which suggests that broader niches and larger range sizes are determined by eco-evolutionary processes unique to expanding ranges, playing a role in observed latitudinal gradients.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Annie Lebreton, Qingchao Zeng, Shingo Miyauchi, Annegret Kohler, Yu-Cheng Dai, Francis M. Martin
Summary: Genomics research on fungal saprotrophs and symbiotrophs in forest ecosystems has revealed insights into lignocellulose decomposition and mutualistic relationships. The transition from saprotrophy to mutualism involves loss of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes, diversification of symbiosis-induced genes, and convergent evolution of genetic innovations for accommodating mutualistic symbionts within plant hosts. Additional genome-based research is needed to further understand the role of soil fungi in sustainable forest ecosystems.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND SYSTEMATICS, VOL 52, 2021
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Susan. M. M. Magnoli, Kane. R. R. Keller, Jennifer. A. A. Lau
Summary: In nature, plants interact with multiple mutualistic partners, and these interactions can be influenced by competition for resources, alteration of plant traits, and environmental conditions. This study focused on the effects of global warming on interactions between plants and their mutualistic partners. The results showed that warming affected the benefits plants received from rhizobium resource mutualists but not ant mutualists, and it also altered plant investment in all mutualists. Additionally, mutualist partners were found to interact and affect the availability of plant-produced rewards. These findings highlight the potential impact of global changes on mutualistic relationships and the complex interactions among multiple mutualists associated with a shared host.
Article
Biology
Anna M. O'Brien, Chandra N. Jack, Maren L. Friesen, Megan E. Frederickson
Summary: This study shows that traits can evolve across multiple genomes, especially in mutualistic relationships. Genetic conflicts may arise between partners, but positive fitness feedback can mitigate these conflicts. Coevolution in host-microbe mutualisms is influenced by factors such as differences in trait values, selection pressures, and fitness feedback.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biology
Julia A. Boyle, Anna K. Simonsen, Megan E. Frederickson, John R. Stinchcombe
Summary: Priority effects occur when the order of species arrival affects the final community structure. In the case of mutualists interacting with hosts in different orders, the outcome can be influenced by the interaction order, with hosts receiving high-quality mutualists early better tolerating low-quality symbionts later.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anna M. O'Brien, Tiago F. Lins, Yamin Yang, Megan E. Frederickson, David Sinton, Chelsea M. Rochman
Summary: This study used duckweed and its microbiome to model responses of interacting plants and microbes to climate change and tire wear particles, finding that tire leachate could potentially disrupt plant-microbe mutualisms. Multiple interacting stressors can affect multiple interacting species.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Rebecca T. Batstone
Summary: Many important plant traits are influenced not only by the plant's genome, but also by genes within microbes and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) due to nested symbiosis. Understanding the evolution of plant traits is facilitated by combining quantitative genetic and functional genomics approaches to consider sources of nested genetic variation. Additionally, studying coevolution within nested symbiosis can help in designing or selecting for MGEs that promote plant health.
Article
Biology
Rebecca T. Batstone, Liana T. Burghardt, Katy D. Heath
Summary: This study examines the (co)evolution of host-associated microbiomes and finds that microbial and host fitness tend to trade-off rather than generating conflict. The results highlight the importance of quantifying microbial relative fitness for understanding microbiome evolution and improving host fitness.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Anna M. O'Brien, Zhu Hao Yu, Clara Pencer, Megan E. Frederickson, Gregory H. LeFevre, Elodie Passeport
Summary: Urbanization has a significant impact on land, air, and water, creating environmental gradients between urban and rural areas. Urban stormwater carries various contaminants to aquatic ecosystems, causing a pollution gradient. The interactions between plants and their associated microbes can affect the growth and response to contaminants, providing potential for bioremediation applications.
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Katy D. Heath, Rebecca T. Batstone, Mario Ceron Romero, John G. McMullen
Summary: In this study, genomics was used to investigate the diversity of mobile genetic elements carrying symbiosis genes in natural populations of Bradyrhizobium. The findings provide insights into the novel mechanisms for generating and maintaining diversity in these ecologically and economically important mutualisms.
Article
Ecology
Jason R. Laurich, Christopher G. Reid, Caroline Biel, Tianbi Wu, Christopher Knox, Megan E. Frederickson
Summary: This study examines the genetic architecture of multiple mutualisms in the Jamaican plant species Turnera ulmifolia. The results show that there are genetic correlations between traits related to pollination, seed dispersal, and defense, suggesting that these mutualisms do not evolve independently. The positive genetic correlations between floral and extrafloral nectar production may help explain their stable coexistence.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zoe. A. A. Parshuram, Tia. L. L. Harrison, Anna. K. K. Simonsen, John. R. R. Stinchcombe, Megan. E. E. Frederickson
Summary: Both mutualism and polyploidy can influence plant invasion success, but their joint effects have been rarely studied. This study showed that polyploid legume species have been successfully introduced to new ranges, but their range expansion is constrained by interactions with rhizobia. In contrast, diploid legume species have limited spread regardless of symbiotic status with rhizobia.
Article
Microbiology
Rebecca T. Batstone, Hanna Lindgren, Cassandra M. Allsup, Laura A. Goralka, Alex B. Riley, Michael A. Grillo, Amy Marshall-Colon, Katy D. Heath
Summary: A goal of modern biology is to develop a predictive understanding of how genomic information generates trait variation in both natural and managed communities. This research investigates the genomic architecture of a symbiotic extended phenotype, partner quality, by studying genetic variation in a model microbial symbiont and host genotypes. It identifies three novel categories of loci that must be considered to build a reliable G -> P map of partner quality.
Article
Biology
Kelly A. Carscadden, Rebecca T. Batstone, Frances E. Hauser
Summary: Understanding the origins and impacts of novel traits, this study expands the research scope in the realms of ecology and evolutionary biology, encompassing novelties across biological scales and eco-evolutionary perspectives. By defining novelties as new features at one biological scale that have emergent effects at other biological scales, the authors incorporate many forms of novelty and outline a broad array of generative mechanisms underlying novelty. They also highlight how genomic tools are transforming our understanding of the origins of novelty and present case studies to illustrate common mechanisms of change and their environmental and genetic contexts.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christopher Carlson, Megan E. Frederickson
Summary: Mutualistic relationships can mask underlying conflicts of interest, and it is debated how often symbionts cheat their hosts and hosts control uncooperative symbionts. This antagonistic coevolution should result in selective sweeps or balancing selection in host and symbiont genomes. However, the genomic analyses suggest that there is little ongoing fitness conflict between legumes and rhizobia in this system.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rebecca T. Batstone, Adham Ibrahim, Lachlan T. MacLean
Summary: Plant-beneficial microbial inoculants are often overpowered by native soil microbes, resulting in a decrease in their abundance, which hinders plant growth.
Article
Biology
Pooja Nathan, Evan P. Economo, Benoit Guenard, Anna K. Simonsen, Megan E. Frederickson
Summary: Mutualism plays an important role in the spread and adaptation of species in new environments. Generalized mutualisms increase the likelihood of species establishing and thriving beyond native ranges, while specialized mutualisms do not affect or even reduce non-native spread.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tia L. Harrison, Zoe A. Parshuram, Megan E. Frederickson, John R. Stinchcombe
Summary: Mutualism is believed to be more common in the tropics, but the impact of mutualism on latitudinal diversity gradients is still uncertain. This study focuses on the symbiotic microbial community associated with the legume Chamaecrista nictitans and finds that non-rhizobial species richness increases towards lower latitudes in the nodules, but not in the rhizobial community. Host selection plays an important role in structuring non-rhizobia communities, and the non-rhizobia strains have a marginal effect on nodule number and no effect on plant growth.