Cell size, genome size, and maximum growth rate are near‐independent dimensions of ecological variation across bacteria and archaea

Among bacteria and archaea, maximum relative growth rate, cell diameter, and genome size are widely regarded as important influences on ecological strategy. Via the most extensive data compilation so far for these traits across all clades and habitats, we ask whether they are correlated and if so ho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology and evolution 2021-05, Vol.11 (9), p.3956-3976
Main Authors: Westoby, Mark, Nielsen, Daniel Aagren, Gillings, Michael R., Litchman, Elena, Madin, Joshua S., Paulsen, Ian T., Tetu, Sasha G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Archaea
Bacteria
cell diameter
Cell size
Correlation
Diameters
Ecological effects
ecological strategies
Ecology
Gene expression
genome size
Genomes
Growth rate
Habitats
maximum growth rate
Metabolism
Nonlinear systems
Original Research
traits
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Summary:Among bacteria and archaea, maximum relative growth rate, cell diameter, and genome size are widely regarded as important influences on ecological strategy. Via the most extensive data compilation so far for these traits across all clades and habitats, we ask whether they are correlated and if so how. Overall, we found little correlation among them, indicating they should be considered as independent dimensions of ecological variation. Nor was correlation evident within particular habitat types. A weak nonlinearity (6% of variance) was found whereby high maximum growth rates (temperature‐adjusted) tended to occur in the midrange of cell diameters. Species identified in the literature as oligotrophs or copiotrophs were clearly separated on the dimension of maximum growth rate, but not on the dimensions of genome size or cell diameter. Among bacteria and archaea, maximum relative growth rate, cell diameter, and genome size are widely regarded as important influences on ecological strategy. Via the most extensive data compilation so far for these traits across all clades and habitats, we found little correlation among them, indicating they should be considered as independent dimensions of ecological variation.
ISSN:2045-7758
2045-7758
DOI:10.1002/ece3.7290