This work wouldn’t have been possible without the leadership of @diamondlab.bsky.social, the incredible teamwork, and support of everyone at @banfieldlab.bsky.social, thank you!

This framework offers a controlled yet ecologically relevant platform for studying microbial dynamics in freshwater systems and unraveling phototroph–heterotroph interactions.

3. Discovery of the potential role of plasmids in mediating cyanobacteria–heterotroph interactions

2. Statistical detection of functional traits enriched in core community members

This enabled three key advances in the study of cyanobacterial communities:

1. Identification of core microbiomes across diverse cyanobacterial strains