Microbial Experimental Systems in Ecology

Abstract

Publisher Summary The use of microbial experimental systems has traditionally been limited in ecology. However, there has recently been a dramatic increase in the number of studies that use microbial experimental systems to address ecological questions. This chapter discusses the history of microbial experimental systems in ecology, the strengths and limitations of such systems, and controversies surrounding their use in ecology. It highlights a number of recent studies in which microbial experimental systems have been used to address one of the primary goals in ecology: identifying and understanding the causes and consequences of life's diversity. The chapter outlines what has been considered to be the characteristics of an ideal model system for advancing ecological understanding, and discusses several microbial systems that fit this description. As ecologists select tools ranging from analytical and simulation models to field manipulations and statistical analyses in order to understand the natural world, microbial experimental systems offer an especially powerful approach.