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Microbial endemism: does phosphorus limitation enhance speciation?

Nature Reviews Microbiology volume 6, pages 559–564 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

There is increasing evidence for the existence of unique ecosystems that are dominated by locally adapted microbiota which harbour distinct lineages and biological capabilities, much like the macrobiota of Darwin's Galapagos Islands. As a primary example of such a system, we highlight key discoveries from the Cuatro Ciénegas basin in Mexico. We argue that high microbial endemism requires a combination of geographical isolation, long-term continuity and mechanisms for reducing the intensity of horizontal gene transfer (HGT). We also propose that strong phosphorus limitation has an important role in microbial diversification by reducing the intensity of HGT.

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Figure 1: The influence of phosphorus (P) limitation on horizontal gene transfer (HGT).
Figure 2: The microorganism-dominated ecosystems of the Cuatro Ciénegas basin, Coahuila, Mexico.
Figure 3: Microbial diversity and endemism at the Cuatro Ciénegas basin.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge M. Breitbart, M. Travisano, L. Falcon, A. Escalante and G. Olmedo who worked with us on the conceptual framework of this paper. This work has been supported by NASA, SEMARNAT/CONACyT CO1-0237, CONACyT 44673Q, CONABIO and AE015. We thank A. Cruz, L. Espinosa-Asuar and M. Kyle for expert technical assistance. The cooperation, logistics and support of CONAP/APFF Cuatro Cienegas, The Nature Conservancy and Pronatura Noreste were paramount for this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Valeria Souza and Luis E. Eguiarte are at the Department of Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CU, AP 70-275, Coyoacán, 04510 México DF, Mexico.,

    Valeria Souza & Luis E. Eguiarte

  2. Janet Siefert is at the Department of Statistics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77251, USA.,

    Janet Siefert

  3. James J. Elser is at the School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA.,

    James J. Elser

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  1. Valeria Souza
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  4. James J. Elser
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Correspondence to Valeria Souza.

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DATABASES

Entrez Genome Project

Bacillus coahuilensis

Bacillus halodurans

Bacillus subtilis

Escherichia coli

Geobacillus kaustophilus

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Oceanobacillus iheyensis

Yersinia pestis

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Souza, V., Eguiarte, L., Siefert, J. et al. Microbial endemism: does phosphorus limitation enhance speciation?. Nat Rev Microbiol 6, 559–564 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1917

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