EMPIRICAL VALIDATION OF THE ROLE OF KEYSTONE TAXA IN MICROBIOME-RESILIENCE TO ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS

Overall Goal: To validate the role of keystone taxa in microbiome resilience to environmental stress.Specific Objectives:To assess the impact of keystone taxa on the assembly of a microbiome and the evolution of network connectivity under stress (salinity).To determine how bacteriophages can be used to selectively deplete keystone taxa and evaluate the impact of their absence on network connectivity under salinity stress.To evaluate the extent to which keystone taxa can reproduce their effects after re-introduction and restore connectivity under salinity stress.Hypotheses:Keystone taxa would enhance network connectivity over time under salinity stress.Phage-mediated depletion of keystone taxa from salinity-resilient communities will lead to reduced connectivity, compromising resilience.Re-introduction of keystone taxa will restore connectivity and resilience under salinity stress.