Literature covered: early 2000s to late 2017 Bacteria frequently exchange metabolites with
other micro-and macro-organisms. In these often obligate cross-feeding interactions, primary …

The rhizosphere microbiome is a central determinant of plant performance. Microbiome
assembly has traditionally been investigated from a bottom-up perspective, assessing how …

Although bacteria frequently live as unicellular organisms, many spend at least part of their
lives in complex communities, and some have adopted truly multicellular lifestyles and have …

Freshwater bacteria are at the hub of biogeochemical cycles and control water quality in
lakes. Despite this, little is known about the identity and ecology of functionally significant …

Heterotrophic nanoflagellates are the main consumers of bacteria and picophytoplankton in
the ocean and thus play a key role in ocean biogeochemistry. They are found in all major …

Bacteria have evolved complex systems to maintain consistent cell morphologies.
Nevertheless, in certain circumstances, bacteria alter this highly regulated process to …

The composition of an ecosystem is thought to be important for determining its resistance to
invasion. Studies of natural ecosystems, from plant to microbial communities, have found …

Highlights•Many bacteria have multicellular lifecycle phases, falling into three broad
categories.•Predation, nutrient scarcity, and environmental variability may have led to …

The transition from unicellular to multicellular life was one of a few major events in the
history of life that created new opportunities for more complex biological systems to evolve …

Bacterial morphology is extremely diverse. Specific shapes are the consequence of adaptive
pressures optimizing bacterial fitness. Shape affects critical biological functions, including …