Seminar: "The Ecology and Genomics of Environmental Microbiomes: Implications for Ecosystem Change" - Britt Bertolet, Ph.D.

Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology

 Fermentation Club Seminar Series | Fall 2026

Speaker: Britt Bertolet, Ph.D., Rutgers University

Host: Jeffrey Boyd

"The Ecology and Genomics of Environmental Microbiomes: Implications for Ecosystem Change"

Abstract:

Microbial communities are central drivers of ecosystem processes, from carbon cycling and greenhouse gas production to toxin production and nutrient transformations. Yet, linking microbial diversity to ecosystem function remains a fundamental challenge, particularly as environmental conditions change. In this seminar, I will present research examining how microbial traits, interactions, and community composition shape ecosystem processes across diverse environmental contexts. Drawing on field studies, trait-based theory, and environmental genomics, I will explore how microbial communities mediate carbon cycling and methane dynamics, and how environmental stress can alter the influence of microbial interactions on ecosystem functioning. I will also highlight how genomic approaches can reveal the metabolic traits and interactions that underpin ecosystem processes, providing a mechanistic link between microbial diversity and ecosystem function. Together, these studies demonstrate how integrating ecology and genomics can improve our ability to predict ecosystem responses to eutrophication, climate change, and other environmental disturbances.