Given one conception of biological individuality (evolutionary, physiological, etc.), can a holobiont – that is the host + its symbiotic (mutualistic, commensalist and parasitic) microbiome – be simultaneously a biological individual and an ecological community? Herein, we support this possibility by arguing that the notion of biological individuality is part‐dependent. In our account, the individuality of a biological ensemble should not only be determined by the conception of biological individuality in use, but also by the biological characteristics of the part of the ensemble under investigation. In the specific case of holobionts, evaluations of their individuality should be made either host‐relative or microbe‐relative. We support the claim that biological individuality is part‐dependent by drawing upon recent empirical evidence regarding the physiology of hosts and microbes, and the recent characterization of the ‘demibiont’. Our account shows that contemporary disagreements about the individuality of the holobiont derive from an incorrect understanding of the ontology of biological individuality. We show that collaboration between philosophers and biologists can be very fruitful in attempts to solve some contemporary biological debates.

中文翻译：

---

部分依赖的生物个体性解释：为什么全息生物同时是个体和生态系统

给定一个生物个体（进化、生理等）的概念，一个全生物——即宿主+它的共生（互惠、共生和寄生）微生物群——能同时是一个生物个体和一个生态群落吗？在此，我们通过论证生物个体性的概念是部分依赖的来支持这种可能性。在我们看来，生物系综的个体性不仅应由使用中的生物个体性概念决定，还应由所研究的系综部分的生物学特征决定。在全生物的特定情况下，应根据宿主相关或微生物相关来评估其个性。我们通过利用最近关于宿主和微生物生理学的经验证据以及最近对“非生物”的表征来支持生物个性部分依赖的说法。我们的描述表明，当代关于全息生物个体性的分歧源于对生物个体性本体论的错误理解。我们表明，哲学家和生物学家之间的合作可以在尝试解决一些当代生物学争论方面非常富有成效。