Investigating the Dimensions of biodiversity in the mussel holobiont
Functional DiversityHow do species vary in functional traits relating to nutrient cycling in the environments in which they occur? How does variation in functional trait diversity relate to genetic diversity, ecological diversity, and phylogenetic diversity of animals among communities? How does the interaction of genetic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity of the host-microbiome holobiont ultimate influence ecological function and the broader ecosystem?
Functional diversity represents the sum of various activities performed by organisms that influence how an ecosystem functions. In rivers, temperature and hydrologic disturbance are important selective agents for physiological and ecological traits, providing a basis for understanding patterns of stream biodiversity and ecosystem function. Ecological stoichiometry (which examines the balance of elements such as C, N, and P) offers a powerful framework for evaluating changes in ecosystem function via species functional traits by providing insights into the mismatch between animal elemental demand and resource elemental supply that impact nutrient cycling. Quantifying variation in stoichiometric functional traits among and within species and across environmental gradients is of particular interest, but has not been considered within the holobiont (the sum of the interactions between the host and its microbiome) concept. By measuring stoichiometric traits and intraspecific variation in these traits as driven by phylogeny, population level processes, and microbiome composition, we will examine ecological and evolutionary dynamics of the holobiont and its role in mediating ecosystem processes. |
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