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Science 10 May 2002:
Vol. 296. no. 5570, pp. 1061 - 1063
DOI: 10.1126/science.1070710
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Global Dispersal of Free-Living Microbial Eukaryote Species

Bland J. Finlay

The abundance of individuals in microbial species is so large that dispersal is rarely (if ever) restricted by geographical barriers. This "ubiquitous" dispersal requires an alternative view of the scale and dynamics of biodiversity at the microbial level, wherein global species number is relatively low and local species richness is always sufficient to drive ecosystem functions.

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (Windermere), Ferry House, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 0LP, UK. E-mail: bjf{at}ceh.ac.uk

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