Quevedo-Caraballo Sergio, Álvarez-Pérez Sergio
Department of Animal Health Complutense University of Madrid Madrid Spain.
Ecol Evol. 2025 Mar 2;15(3):e71059. doi: 10.1002/ece3.71059. eCollection 2025 Mar.
The study of the rules that govern the relationship between phenotypic plasticity, genetic structure, and ecological success has traditionally focused on animals, plants, and a few model microbial species, whereas non-model microorganisms have received much less attention in this regard. The floral nectar of angiosperms is an ephemeral, island-like habitat for different highly adapted yeasts and bacteria. The growth of microorganisms in floral nectar depends on their ability to efficiently use the available nutrients and tolerate challenging physicochemical conditions, including high osmotic pressures, unbalanced carbon-to-nitrogen ratios, and the presence of diverse defensive compounds of plant origin. The production of alternative phenotypic states in response to environmental cues (i.e., phenotypic plasticity) or independently from these (within-environment trait variability) might be particularly relevant in floral nectar, in which rapid growth is needed for population persistence and to improve the chance of animal-mediated dispersal. In this article, we use the nectar microbiome as an example to encourage further research on the causes and ecological consequences of phenotypic plasticity and within-environment trait variability of microbes. We review previous work on the mechanisms and potential ecological significance of the phenotypic plasticity and within-environment trait variability displayed by nectar yeasts and bacteria. Additionally, we provide an overview of some topics that require further attention, including potential trade-offs between different traits that are relevant for adaptation to dynamic nectar environments and the direct and indirect effects of phenotypic variability on the fitness of plants, flower-visiting animals, and other nectar microbes. We conclude that further research on the causes and ecological consequences of phenotypic plasticity and within-environment trait variability of microbes is essential to get a better understanding of community assembly and the establishment of ecological interactions in floral nectar and other similar highly dynamic and strongly selective microbial habitats.
传统上，对表型可塑性、遗传结构和生态适应性之间关系的规则研究主要集中在动物、植物和少数模式微生物物种上，而在这方面非模式微生物受到的关注要少得多。被子植物的花蜜是不同高度适应的酵母和细菌的短暂、岛状栖息地。微生物在花蜜中的生长取决于它们有效利用可用营养物质以及耐受具有挑战性的物理化学条件的能力，这些条件包括高渗透压、不平衡的碳氮比以及多种植物源防御化合物的存在。响应环境线索产生替代表型状态（即表型可塑性）或独立于这些线索产生（环境内性状变异性）在花蜜中可能特别重要，因为花蜜中种群持续存在和提高动物介导传播的机会需要快速生长。在本文中，我们以花蜜微生物组为例，鼓励进一步研究微生物表型可塑性和环境内性状变异性的原因及生态后果。我们回顾了先前关于花蜜酵母和细菌所表现出的表型可塑性和环境内性状变异性的机制及潜在生态意义的研究工作。此外，我们概述了一些需要进一步关注的主题，包括与适应动态花蜜环境相关的不同性状之间的潜在权衡，以及表型变异性对植物、访花动物和其他花蜜微生物适合度的直接和间接影响。我们得出结论，进一步研究微生物表型可塑性和环境内性状变异性的原因及生态后果对于更好地理解花蜜以及其他类似的高度动态和强选择性微生物栖息地中的群落组装和生态相互作用的建立至关重要。
