The role of ecological theory in microbial ecology

James I. Prosser; Brendan J.M. Bohannan; Tom P. Curtis; Richard J. Ellis; Mary K. Firestone; Rob P. Freckleton; Jessica L. Green; Laura E. Green; Ken Killham; Jack J. Lennon; A. Mark Osborn; Martin Solan; Christopher J. van der Gast; J. Peter W. Young

doi:10.1038/nrmicro1643

The role of ecological theory in microbial ecology

James I. Prosser^*, Brendan J.M. Bohannan, Tom P. Curtis, Richard J. Ellis, Mary K. Firestone, Rob P. Freckleton, Jessica L. Green, Laura E. Green, Ken Killham, Jack J. Lennon, A. Mark Osborn, Martin Solan, Christopher J. van der Gast, J. Peter W. Young

^*Corresponding author for this work

Life and Environmental Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

607 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Microbial ecology is currently undergoing a revolution, with repercussions spreading throughout microbiology, ecology and ecosystem science. The rapid accumulation of molecular data is uncovering vast diversity, abundant uncultivated microbial groups and novel microbial functions. This accumulation of data requires the application of theory to provide organization, structure, mechanistic insight and, ultimately, predictive power that is of practical value, but the application of theory in microbial ecology is currently very limited. Here we argue that the full potential of the ongoing revolution will not be realized if research is not directed and driven by theory, and that the generality of established ecological theory must be tested using microbial systems.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	384-392
Number of pages	9
Journal	Nature Reviews Microbiology
Volume	5
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1643
Publication status	Published - May 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Microbiology
General Immunology and Microbiology
Infectious Diseases

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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title = "The role of ecological theory in microbial ecology",

abstract = "Microbial ecology is currently undergoing a revolution, with repercussions spreading throughout microbiology, ecology and ecosystem science. The rapid accumulation of molecular data is uncovering vast diversity, abundant uncultivated microbial groups and novel microbial functions. This accumulation of data requires the application of theory to provide organization, structure, mechanistic insight and, ultimately, predictive power that is of practical value, but the application of theory in microbial ecology is currently very limited. Here we argue that the full potential of the ongoing revolution will not be realized if research is not directed and driven by theory, and that the generality of established ecological theory must be tested using microbial systems.",

author = "Prosser, {James I.} and Bohannan, {Brendan J.M.} and Curtis, {Tom P.} and Ellis, {Richard J.} and Firestone, {Mary K.} and Freckleton, {Rob P.} and Green, {Jessica L.} and Green, {Laura E.} and Ken Killham and Lennon, {Jack J.} and Osborn, {A. Mark} and Martin Solan and {van der Gast}, {Christopher J.} and Young, {J. Peter W.}",

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AU - Curtis, Tom P.

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AU - Freckleton, Rob P.

AU - Green, Jessica L.

AU - Green, Laura E.

AU - Killham, Ken

AU - Lennon, Jack J.

AU - Osborn, A. Mark

AU - Solan, Martin

AU - van der Gast, Christopher J.

AU - Young, J. Peter W.

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The role of ecological theory in microbial ecology

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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