A concept using α-niche evolution within bacterial communities to direct β-niche evolution of focal species

Thomas Scheuerl, Damian Rivett

The process of bacterial adaptation has a profound impact on human wellbeing and health, but our toolkit to modify evolution is limited. Here, we present a concept of how steering evolution can be achieved by integration of ecological and evolutionary approaches. The fundamental issue is how specific species bloom after community perturbance and subsequently evolve. We consider two kinds of traits – α-niche traits involved in partitioning resources (e.g. broadened resource consumption) and β-niche traits driven by changes in the abiotic environment (e.g. pH adaptation or resistance after antibiotic treatment). We suggest that evolution of the second trait can be directed indirectly via evolution of the first trait exploiting specific interspecies interactions. Thus, understanding how these traits interact in co-evolving communities may offer unprecedented opportunities to deflect trait evolution. Summarizing current knowledge, emphasising open questions and highlighting conceptual ideas we hope to stimulate new studies that are needed to move this field forward.