Evolution of the indoor biome

Trends Ecol Evol. 2015 Apr;30(4):223-32. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2015.02.001. Epub 2015 Mar 11.

Abstract

Few biologists have studied the evolutionary processes at work in indoor environments. Yet indoor environments comprise approximately 0.5% of ice-free land area--an area as large as the subtropical coniferous forest biome. Here we review the emerging subfield of 'indoor biome' studies. After defining the indoor biome and tracing its deep history, we discuss some of its evolutionary dimensions. We restrict our examples to the species found in human houses--a subset of the environments constituting the indoor biome--and offer preliminary hypotheses to advance the study of indoor evolution. Studies of the indoor biome are situated at the intersection of evolutionary ecology, anthropology, architecture, and human ecology and are well suited for citizen science projects, public outreach, and large-scale international collaborations.

Keywords: anthrome; built environment; microbiome; phylogeography; urban ecology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Ecosystem*
  • Housing
  • Humans
  • Microbiota / physiology
  • Plant Physiological Phenomena