Abstract
Biogeography is flawed by a poor understanding of microbial
distribution, due to the lack of systematical research framework,
especially appropriate study units. We studied the biogeographic
patterns of Nematode-Trapping Fungi by collecting and analyzing 2,250
specimens from 228 sites in Yunnan Province, China. We found typical
watershed patterns both at the level of species and gene of
Nematode-Trapping Fungi. The results showed that microbial biogeography
could be better understood by 1) using watersheds as research units, 2)
removing the coverup of widespread species, and 3) applying good
sampling efforts and strategies. We suggest that watersheds could help
unify the understanding of biogeographic patterns of animal, plant, and
microbe, and may also help account for the historical and contemporary
factors driving species distribution.