Figure 2
From: Where less may be more: how the rare biosphere pulls ecosystems strings
Overview of ecosystem functions supported by rare species. Rare species can drive key processes in geochemical cycles and are major players in nutrient cycling greenhouse gas emissions and pollutant degradation. They can affect community assembly by preventing the invasion of new species, and stabilize community function in fluctuating environments. Further, rare microbes are essential players of host-associated microbiomes in plants and animals by preventing pathogen establishment and stimulating host immunity. References are given in Table 1.
