Deforestation in the Amazon equals net losses of diversity for microbial communities
Wednesday, December 26, 2012 - 09:30
in Biology & Nature
Research from an international team of microbiologists has revealed a new concern about deforestation in the Amazon rainforest -- a troubling net loss in the diversity among the microbial organisms responsible for a functioning ecosystem. Scientists worry that the loss of genetic variation in bacteria across a converted forest could reduce ecosystem resilience.