Comparative analyses in aquatic microbial ecology: how far do they go?

Methodological developments in recent years have led to an increase in empi rical databases on the abundance and functions of aquatic microbes, now all owing synthesis studies. Most of these studies have adopted a comparative a pproach, such I-hat comparative analyses are now available for most aspects of aquatic microbial food webs (more than 50 papers published ill the last 15 years). Some of these analyses apparently yield conflicting results, in troducing confusion and unnecessary disputes in the field. We briefly revie w the comparative analyses so far produced and we highlight generalities, s how that some of the perceived discrepancies largely derive from partial an alyses of a general underlying trend and formulate predictions based on the se general trends that provide new avenues for research. (C) 2000 Federatio n of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.