作者: Christopher A. Gaulke , Holly K. Arnold , Ian R. Humphreys , Steven W. Kembel , James P. O’Dwyer
关键词: Evolution of mammals 、 Evolutionary biology 、 Microbiome 、 Biology 、 Clade 、 Gut flora 、 Phylogenetic Pattern 、 Microbial Taxonomy 、 Phylogenetics 、 Natural selection
摘要: Our knowledge of how the gut microbiome relates to mammalian evolution benefits from the identification of gut microbial taxa that are unexpectedly prevalent or unexpectedly conserved across mammals. Such taxa enable experimental determination of the traits needed for such microbes to succeed as gut generalists, as well as those traits that impact mammalian fitness. However, the punctuated resolution of microbial taxonomy may limit our ability to detect conserved gut microbes, especially in cases in which broadly related …