AI Article Synopsis
- Prochlorococcus is the smallest and most abundant photosynthetic organism in the ocean and plays a key role in marine ecosystems.
- The study examines how Prochlorococcus interacts with its environment, viruses, and other microorganisms, impacting its ecology and evolution.
- Recent findings suggest that Prochlorococcus is a diverse group of cells that helps maintain its wide distribution and stability, making it a valuable model for understanding microbial populations and ecosystems.
Article Abstract
The marine cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus is the smallest and most abundant photosynthetic organism on Earth. In this Review, we summarize our understanding of the diversity of this remarkable phototroph and describe its role in ocean ecosystems. We discuss the importance of interactions of Prochlorococcus with the physical environment, with phages and with heterotrophs in shaping the ecology and evolution of this group. In light of recent studies, we have come to view Prochlorococcus as a 'federation' of diverse cells that sustains its broad distribution, stability and abundance in the oceans via extensive genomic and phenotypic diversity. Thus, it is proving to be a useful model system for elucidating the forces that shape microbial populations and ecosystems.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro3378 | DOI Listing |
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