Critical analysis
The present study is based on the metagenomics that shows a promising potential to reveal the hidden interactive networks among various species, be it ecological or metabolic. The article present a study conducted by Raes and co-workers (2011), in which they performed research using Global Ocean Survey (GOS) of metagenomic data and ocean samples across the globe. Though only dominant species were sampled in the study, it produced a distinct set of data that facilitated the molecular trait-based ecological studies. The authors have claimed that certain climatic factors drive the functional community compositions. For further investigation, they performed functional annotation, pathway analysis, BLAST sequencing, and analyzed data using multiple algorithms like Pairwise correlations, linear regression, and canonical correlation analysis. The study concluded that there is a correlation among various molecular and functional composition resultants from metagenomes which is a powerful marker of ecological processes. Moreover study advocated that climatic factors highly impact the bio-molecular aspects of life. The outcomes of this study manifested that the derived community opuses act as a potential marker for molecular trait-based biogeography and ecology.
Purpose
The objective of the study is to discover the ecological markers using marine metagenomics data to inspect the connection between the environmental and functional community compositions, factors determining the species dispersal as well as gene flow across geographical locations, the interface between functional compositions and prime production. Finally it aimed to investigate the geographic disparity in universal functional diversity and its consequences.
The research has provided valuable information to the field of molecular ecology and biogeography. Though the study included only dominant marine species and eukaryotic planktons were excluded. This exclusion could provide more and controversial information against the results of the study if it were included in the analysis. Because marine eukaryotic plankton is an extensive range of organism that encloses a great gene pool and parts list inside.
Major findings
The major findings of the study were parallel to the proposed concept of the study. The researchers successfully established the connections between the functional and environmental community compositions. The results of the study showed a connection among metagenomes derived molecular and functional compositions. Furthermore, they added that environmental conditions determine the functional biogeography and distribution of species and climatic factors are foremost determinants of the biomolecular selection and functional trait dispersion.
Weaknesses and strength
The article presented valuable insights to the relevant field of research. It had used Global Ocean Survey (GOS) information along with 25 ocean metagenomes samples collected from the different ocean across the globe. The research methodology of the article was very appropriate that covered an immense amount of gene pool, but the sample selection criteria based on size fractionation led to the exclusion of eukaryotic plankton. It can be presented as a limitation or weakness of this research because in this case a big part of informative data had been missed.
The results of the research are interpreted in a proper fashion. The authors have discussed its expectations, study outcomes as well as limitations in sampling and data interpretations. The article showed not any significant bias. The literature review of the article is descriptive providing a glimpse of the current gaps in the field (Raes).
The study can be improved through adding other species including eukaryotic flora of marine life. This inclusion will reveal new aspects and connections between ecological and biogeographical developments.
Works Cited
Raes, Jeroen, et al. "Toward molecular trait‐based ecology through integration of
biogeochemical, geographical and metagenomic data."Molecular systems biology 7.1
(2011): 473.
