Introducing the mangrove microbiome initiative: Identifying microbial research priorities and approaches to better understand, protect, and rehabilitate mangrove ecosystems

Sarah M. Allard, Matthew T. Costa, Ashley N. Bulseco, Véronique Helfer, Laetitia G.E. Wilkins, Christiane Hassenrück, Karsten Zengler, Martin Zimmer, Natalia Erazo, Jorge L. Mazza Rodrigues, Norman Duke, Vânia M.M. Melo, Inka Vanwonterghem, Howard Junca, Huxley M. Makonde, Diego Javier Jiménez, Tallita C.L. Tavares, Marco Fusi, Daniele Daffonchio, Carlos M. DuarteRaquel S. Peixoto, Alexandre S. Rosado, Jack A. Gilbert, Jeff Bowman

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    56 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Mangrove ecosystems provide important ecological benefits and ecosystem services, including carbon storage and coastline stabilization, but they also suffer great anthropogenic pressures. Microorganisms associated with mangrove sediments and the rhizosphere play key roles in this ecosystem and make essential contributions to its productivity and carbon budget. Understanding this nexus and moving from descriptive studies of microbial taxonomy to hypothesis-driven field and lab studies will facilitate a mechanistic understanding of mangrove ecosystem interaction webs and open opportunities for microorganism-mediated approaches to mangrove protection and rehabilitation. Such an effort calls for a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach, involving chemists, ecologists, evolutionary biologists, microbiologists, oceanographers, plant scientists, conservation biologists, and stakeholders, and it requires standardized methods to support reproducible experiments. Here, we outline the Mangrove Microbiome Initiative, which is focused around three urgent priorities and three approaches for advancing mangrove microbiome research.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article numbere0065820
    Number of pages9
    JournalmSystems
    Volume5
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 20 Oct 2020

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