Population genomics, "community metabolism," and genomic comparisons of different microbial communities are all now possible.
Methane-oxidising microbial communities are studied intensively because of their importance for global methane cycling.
Impacts on microbial communities are known to be important, but are not well understood.
Sediments and their associated microbial communities are a vital part of riverine ecosystems.
The metagenomes of complex microbial communities are rich sources of novel biocatalysts.
In marine ecosystems microbial communities are critical to ocean function, global primary productivity, and biogeochemical cycles.
Aquatic microbial communities are central to biogeochemical processes that maintain Earth's habitability.
Microbial communities are the driving force behind the degradation of contaminants like aromatic hydrocarbons in groundwater ecosystems.
These observations are supported by previous studies that demonstrated how different microbial communities are from different body parts – and that the personal microbial signature is unique.
The researchers were actually looking for bacteria, to understand how microbial communities are changing in response to warming temperatures.
Land-use change can have significant impacts on soil conditions and microbial communities are likely to respond to these changes.
