Recently, microbiologists have established the existence of biogeographic patterns among a
wide range of microorganisms. The focus of the field is now shifting to identifying the …

Humans have effectively transported thousands of species around the globe and, with
accelerated trade; the rate of introductions has increased over time. Aquatic ecosystems …

Abstract 16S ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) amplicon analysis remains the standard
approach for the cultivation-independent investigation of microbial diversity. The accuracy of …

Background Estuaries are among the most productive habitats on the planet. Bacteria in
estuary sediments control the turnover of organic carbon and the cycling of nitrogen and …

The factors driving β-diversity (variation in community composition) yield insights into the
maintenance of biodiversity on the planet. Here we tested whether the mechanisms that …

The majority of life on Earth—notably, microbial life—occurs in places that do not receive
sunlight, with the habitats of the oceans being the largest of these reservoirs. Sunlight …

The classical view states that microbial biogeography is not affected by dispersal barriers or
historical events, but only influenced by the local contemporary habitat conditions (species …

Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) are conventionally defined at a phylogenetic distance
(0.03—species, 0.05—genus, 0.10—family) based on full-length 16S rRNA gene …

The deep-sea is the largest biome of the biosphere, and contains more than half of the
whole ocean's microbes. Uncovering their general patterns of diversity and community …

Background Characterizing the biogeography of the microbiome of healthy humans is
essential for understanding microbial associated diseases. Previous studies mainly focused …