Schlechter R O, Remus-Emsermann M N P
Institute of Microbiology and Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences, Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
School of Biological Sciences and Biomolecular Interaction Centre and Bioprotection Research Core, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Environ Microbiol. 2025 Jan;27(1):e70025. doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.70025.
The leaf surface, known as the phylloplane, presents an oligotrophic and heterogeneous environment due to its topography and uneven distribution of resources. Although it is a challenging environment, leaves support abundant bacterial communities that are spatially structured. However, the factors influencing these spatial distribution patterns are not well understood. To study the changes in population density and spatial distribution of bacteria in synthetic communities, the behaviour of two common bacterial groups in the Arabidopsis thaliana leaf microbiota-Methylobacterium (methylobacteria) and Sphingomonas (sphingomonads)-was examined. Using synthetic communities consisting of two or three species, the hypothesis was tested that the presence of a third species affects the density and spatial interaction of the other two species. Results indicated that methylobacteria exhibit greater sensitivity to changes in population densities and spatial patterns, with higher intra-genus competition and lower densities and aggregation compared to sphingomonads. Pairwise comparisons were insufficient to explain the shifts observed in three-species communities, suggesting that higher-order interactions influence the structuring of complex communities. This emphasises the role of multispecies interactions in determining spatial patterns and community dynamics on the phylloplane.
叶片表面，即叶际，由于其地形和资源分布不均，呈现出一种贫营养且异质的环境。尽管这是一个具有挑战性的环境，但叶片上却存在丰富且具有空间结构的细菌群落。然而，影响这些空间分布模式的因素尚未得到充分了解。为了研究合成群落中细菌种群密度和空间分布的变化，对拟南芥叶微生物群中两种常见细菌类群——甲基杆菌（甲基细菌）和鞘氨醇单胞菌（鞘氨醇单胞菌属）的行为进行了研究。使用由两到三个物种组成的合成群落，检验了第三种物种的存在会影响其他两种物种的密度和空间相互作用这一假设。结果表明，与鞘氨醇单胞菌相比，甲基杆菌对种群密度和空间模式的变化表现出更高的敏感性，属内竞争更强，密度和聚集性更低。成对比较不足以解释在三种物种群落中观察到的变化，这表明高阶相互作用会影响复杂群落的结构。这强调了多物种相互作用在决定叶际空间模式和群落动态中的作用。
