By investigating a simple question, a philosopher of science and a
molecular biologist offer an accessible understanding of microbial
communities and a motivating theory for future research in community
ecology.
Microorganisms, such as bacteria, are important determinants of health
at the individual, ecosystem, and global levels. And yet many aspects of
modern life, from the overuse of antibiotics to chemical spills and
climate change, can have devastating, lasting impacts on the communities
formed by microorganisms. Drawing on the latest scientific research and
real-life examples such as attempts to reengineer these communities
through microbial transplantation, the construction of synthetic
communities of microorganisms, and the use of probiotics, this book
explores how and why communities of microorganisms respond to
disturbance, and what might lead to failure. It also unpacks related and
interwoven philosophical questions: What is an organism? Can a community
evolve by natural selection? How can we make sense of function and
purpose in the natural world? How should we think about regeneration as
a phenomenon that occurs at multiple biological scales? Provocative and
nuanced, this primer offers an accessible conceptual and theoretical
understanding of regeneration and evolution at the community level that
will be essential across disciplines including philosophy of biology,
conservation biology, microbiomics, medicine, evolutionary biology, and
ecology.
