The unseen majority: What we know and still need to know about tropical microorganisms

Tropical biomes are undergoing land-use and climate driven changes, some of which are apparent while others are invisible. Species extinctions include unidentified microbial taxa that define soil health, support ecosystem services, influence ecological resilience, and maintain plant diversity. Tropical forests can support over three hundred tree species in one hectare. How does that compare to the diversity of microorganisms living in that hectare of tropical soil, or associated with the fruits, leaves, and roots of those trees? Using examples spanning systems and modes of inquiry, this talk highlights what we know and wish to know about tropical plant-microbe interactions.