Structural and Functional Interactions of Protistan Microbiomes in a Changing Ocean

Species interactions among eukaryotic microorganisms (protists) in diverse aquatic environments pose a challenge to our understanding of the consequences of climate and anthropogenic changes on biodiversity and biogeography. Protistan microbiomes are defined by a complex interplay among physical, chemical, and biological factors expressed at the microscale. In marine systems, microbial consortia are established and develop in an aqueous environment that differs fundamentally from parallel interactions in terrestrial ecosystems. The microbiomes range from symbiotic relationships with other microeukaryotes to mutually beneficial or antagonistic interactions among community microbiota and associated macrofaunal or macrophytic host substrates. Within marine food webs, the microbiome sets the stage for complex predator-prey relationships among protists, bacteria, and macrofauna. The primary challenge to be addressed is to provide convincing evidence that microscale events within and among protistan consortia can be plausibly extrapolated to shifts in biodiversity, speciation, and biogeography at the ecosystem level. This Research Topic highlights recent advances in omics and physico-chemical detection technologies to describe and define protistan species interactions at the microscale in diverse marine environments, including the pelagic and benthic realms of coastal and estuarine ecosystems and the open ocean. Given this broad spectrum, herein there will be a particular focus on spatially defined ecosystems, such as coral reefs, hydrothermal vents, stratified thin layers, etc., and the processes that occur upon respective substrates on the microscale. The primary aim is to provide an integrated interpretation of microbiome structure and function to yield plausible scenarios and conceptual models in response to regime shifts in a changing ocean. This knowledge can then be employed to develop and implement effective countermeasures to mitigate risks and damage to human and ecosystem health and to optimize the delivery of ecosystem services from the human perspective. This Research Topic welcomes the contribution of Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Opinions, Methods, and Perspective articles in any of the following sub-topics:• Advanced approaches for assessment of protistan microbiome status and stability• Description and risk assessment of biodiversity shifts at the micro- and mesoscale in specific marine environments• Consequences of microbiota consortium shifts on marine ecosystem function and stability• Countermeasures to prevent bio-invasions and mitigate impacts via control strategies• Roles and mechanisms of genetic stability and adaptive features of protistan microbiomes • Microbiome impact of anthropogenic activities on bio-invasions, global spreading, and development of high biomass events, including toxigenic and otherwise harmful algal blooms (HABs)• Social perceptions on the effects of microbiome disruptions on ecosystem services, human and ecosystem health, and socio-economic consequences Topic editors: Allan Douglas Cembella, Lorena María Duran-Riveroll Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82608/structural-and-functional-interactions-of-protistan-microbiomes-in-a-changing-ocean