Dynamics of carbon substrate competition among heterotrophic microorganisms.

ABSTRACT: Growing evidence suggests that interactions among heterotrophic microorganisms influence the efficiency and rate of organic matter turnover. These interactions are dynamic and shaped by the composition and availability of resources in their surrounding environment. Heterotrophic microorganisms inhabiting marine environments often encounter fluctuations in the quality and quantity of carbon inputs, ranging from simple sugars to large, complex compounds. Here, we experimentally tested how the chemical complexity of carbon substrates affects competition and growth dynamics between two heterotrophic marine isolates. We tracked cell density using species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and measured rates of microbial CO2 production along with associated isotopic signatures (13C

SUBMITTER: McNichol SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10942773 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature