Ecology: Yeasts on their Natural Environment

Yeasts are prevalent in most habitats on Earth, where they often reach high abundance and establish species-rich communities. To date, most research efforts have focused on cataloging the prevalence and diversity (at the phylogenetic and/or physiological level) of yeasts in different habitats and searching for reservoirs of novel yeast taxa. However, little is known regarding the ecological roles that yeasts play in their natural habitats or the relationships that they maintain with other coexisting organisms. This chapter provides a general overview of yeast habitats, with attention to the response of yeasts to diverse abiotic and biotic factors. Furthermore, the chapter presents a detailed description of some relevant systems where yeasts interact with other macro- and microorganisms, namely the insect microbiome, phylloplane, decaying cactus tissues, angiosperm flowers, human microbiome, and industrial processes. Future challenges in the study of yeast ecology are briefly discussed.