Bacterial Predators in Host Microbiomes

Abstract

In macroecology, predators play major roles in structuring ecosystem function and community diversity. Yet relatively little is understood about the roles of bacterial predators in the community ecology of microorganisms and host-associated microbiomes. Host-associated microbial community dynamics are affected by extrinsic environmental factors such as resource availability, temperature, and salinity, as well as host diet, genetic background, and health. Cooperative symbioses, antagonisms, competition, and predation also occur within a microbiome.