Bioreactors on the Move: How Animals Contribute to Microbial Community Coalescence and Shape Ecosystem Function

Abstract

Microbiome community coalescence—the mixing of separate microbial communities and their environments resulting in a novel community—represents an important but understudied ecological process at the animal‐environment interface. Here, we propose that animals function as “mobile bioreactors” across landscapes, ingesting environmental microbes that undergo selective filtering within the animal gut that are then deposited back into the environment alongside the animal's native microbiota. This coalescence of animal and environmental microbiomes can significantly alter ecosystem processes including nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and trophic interactions. We synthesize emerging evidence from terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems demonstrating how animal‐facilitated microbial coalescence influences ecosystem functioning. Through case studies of hippos in African rivers, fish on coral reefs, and earthworms in soil, we illustrate how these coalescence events create novel microbial communities with distinct functional capabilities. We identify methodological approaches for investigating these phenomena and outline key knowledge gaps, particularly regarding the persistence of animal microbiota in environmental settings and their quantitative contribution to ecosystem processes. Here we highlight the importance of studying animal‐environmental coalescence events with far reaching implications for our understanding of ecosystem processes, animal health, and environmental resilience.

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