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Does diversity beget diversity in microbiomes?

  1. Naïma Jesse Madi
  2. Michiel Vos
  3. Carmen Lia Murall
  4. Pierre Legendre
  5. B. Jesse Shapiro  Is a corresponding author
  1. University of Montreal, Canada
  2. University of Exeter, United Kingdom
  3. McGill University, Canada
Research Article
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Cite this article as: eLife 2020;9:e58999 doi: 10.7554/eLife.58999

Abstract

Microbes are embedded in complex communities where they engage in a wide array of intra- and inter-specific interactions. The extent to which these interactions drive or impede microbiome diversity is not well understood. Historically, two contrasting hypotheses have been suggested to explain how species interactions could influence diversity. 'Ecological Controls' (EC) predicts a negative relationship, where the evolution or migration of novel types is constrained as niches become filled. In contrast, 'Diversity Begets Diversity' (DBD) predicts a positive relationship, with existing diversity promoting the accumulation of further diversity via niche construction and other interactions. Using high-throughput amplicon sequencing data from the Earth Microbiome Project, we provide evidence that DBD is strongest in low-diversity biomes, but weaker in more diverse biomes, consistent with biotic interactions initially favoring the accumulation of diversity (as predicted by DBD). However, as niches become increasingly filled, diversity hits a plateau (as predicted by EC).

Article and author information

Author details

  1. Naïma Jesse Madi

    Sciences Biologiques, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
    Competing interests
    The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

  2. Michiel Vos

    European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
    Competing interests
    The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

  3. Carmen Lia Murall

    Sciences Biologiques, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
    Competing interests
    The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
    ORCID icon "This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0002-1543-4501

  4. Pierre Legendre

    Sciences Biologiques, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
    Competing interests
    The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

  5. B. Jesse Shapiro

    Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
    For correspondence
    jesse.shapiro@mcgill.ca
    Competing interests
    The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
    ORCID icon "This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0001-6819-8699

Funding

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

  • B. Jesse Shapiro

Canada Research Chairs

  • B. Jesse Shapiro

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.

Reviewing Editor

  1. Detlef Weigel, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Germany

Publication history

  1. Received: May 18, 2020
  2. Accepted: November 19, 2020
  3. Accepted Manuscript published: November 20, 2020 (version 1)
  4. Version of Record published: December 22, 2020 (version 2)
  5. Version of Record updated: December 24, 2020 (version 3)

Copyright

© 2020, Madi et al.

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.

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