Hierarchical eco-evo dynamics mediated by the gut microbiome

Trends Ecol Evol. 2023 Oct 18:S0169-5347(23)00244-6. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.09.013. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe concept of eco-evolutionary (eco-evo) dynamics, stating that ecological and evolutionary processes occur at similar time scales and influence each other, has contributed to our understanding of responses of populations, communities, and ecosystems to environmental change. Phenotypes, central to these eco-evo processes, can be strongly impacted by the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome shapes eco-evo dynamics in the host community through its effects on the host phenotype. Complex eco-evo feedback loops between the gut microbiome and the host communities might thus be common. Bottom-up dynamics occur when eco-evo interactions shaping the gut microbiome affect host phenotypes with consequences at population, community, and ecosystem levels. Top-down dynamics occur when eco-evo dynamics shaping the host community structure the gut microbiome.PMID:37863775 | DOI:10.1016/j.tree.2023.09.013

Source: Trends in Ecology and Evolution - October 20, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Ellen Decaestecker Broos Van de Moortel Shinjini Mukherjee Aditi Gurung Robby Stoks Luc De Meester Source Type: research