Over the last few decades, there has been a growing awareness of the fact that commensal microbiota are important just about everywhere, from our bodies to the leaves of tomato plants. Funnily enough this hasn't quite translated into the realisation that saving life on Earth from another mass extinction will also require saving the microbes that are the foundation of all ecosystems as well as the little helpers in many symbiotic relationships.
Only last year did the IUCN (which looks after the Red List of endangered species) launch a specialist group focused on microbial conservation. Reason enough to write a feature about it which is out now:
Towards a Red List for microbes
Current Biology Volume 36, Issue 6, 23 March 2026, Pages R229-R231
Restricted access to full text and PDF download
(Unfortunately, this year's features will no longer become open access one year after publication - do contact me if you would like a PDF. Last year's features will still move to the open archives as this year advances.)
Magic link for free access
(first seven weeks only)
See also my new Mastodon thread where I will highlight all this year's CB features.
My mastodon posts are also mirrored on Bluesky.
Last year's thread is here .
The cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus is a major contributor to photosynthesis globally but may be more vulnerable to ocean warming than previously predicted. (Image taken by Anne Thompson, Chisholm Lab.)
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