The importance of physical isolation to microbial diversification

R Thane Papke; David M Ward

doi:10.1016/j.femsec.2004.03.013

The importance of physical isolation to microbial diversification

FEMS Microbiol Ecol. 2004 Jun 1;48(3):293-303. doi: 10.1016/j.femsec.2004.03.013.

Authors

R Thane Papke¹, David M Ward

Affiliation

¹ Department of Land Resources and Environmental Studies, Montana State University, Bozeman, 59715, USA. rpapke@dal.ca

PMID: 19712299
DOI: 10.1016/j.femsec.2004.03.013

Abstract

The importance of physical isolation, defined as the spatial separation of two or more populations, to the evolution of organisms has been well studied in plants and animals yet its significance regarding microbial evolution has not been fully appreciated. Here we review the theoretical paradigm of physical isolation for the diversification of organisms in general and then provide a variety of evidence indicating that microbial populations also fit into a similar evolutionary framework.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Bacteria / genetics
Biodiversity*
Biological Evolution*
Genetic Variation*
Geography