Abstract:
Microbiomes have highly important roles for ecosystem functioning and carry
out key functions that support planetary health, including nutrient cycling, climate regulation,
and water filtration. Microbiomes are also intimately associated with complex multicellular
organisms such as humans, other animals, plants, and insects and perform crucial roles
for the health of their hosts. Although we are starting to understand that microbiomes in
different systems are interconnected, there is still a poor understanding of microbiome
transfer and connectivity. In this review we show how microbiomes are connected within
and transferred between different habitats and discuss the functional consequences of
these connections. Microbiome transfer occurs between and within abiotic (e.g., air, soil,
and water) and biotic environments, and can either be mediated through different vectors
(e.g., insects or food) or direct interactions. Such transfer processes may also include the
transmission of pathogens or antibiotic resistance genes. However, here, we highlight the
fact that microbiome transmission can have positive effects on planetary and human
health, where transmitted microorganisms potentially providing novel functions may be important
for the adaptation of ecosystems.
