Interbacterial relationships shape cyanobacterial ecology
Cyanobacterial ecology has traditionally been linked to abiotic environmental drivers, but emerging evidence indicates that interactions with other microorganisms are also very important.
Specific bacteria frequently co-occur with cyanobacterial taxa and can provide complementary metabolic functions that shape cyanobacterial growth and ecology.
Metabolic exchanges between cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacterial partners are facilitated by microbial processes, including quorum sensing and chemotaxis.
Interactions with heterotrophic bacteria can influence large-scale processes including primary production, nitrogen fixation, toxin production, and bloom formation.
Characterizing the nature and impact of these interbacterial interactions is crucial, now more than ever, as climate change is predicted to alter cyanobacterial biology and exacerbate their impact on aquatic ecosystems.
https://www.cell.com/trends/microbiology/fulltext/S0966-842X(26)00218-0
