Slower-growing species promote interspecific cooperation and coexistence under acid stress through cross-feeding.

ABSTRACT: Acid stress is a central environmental factor shaping the structure and function of microbial communities worldwide. However, there is a lack of predictive understanding of how microbial communities respond physiologically and metabolically to acid stress. Here, we find that higher acid stress favors slower-growing species, promoting population growth and coexistence. Our experiments show that acid stress influences the spatial structure of communities, wherein coexistence is ordered over centimeter-length scales and determined by growth-tolerance trade-offs. We find that interspecific interactions are highly dynamic during acid stress changes, with shifts from competition to cooperation, enhancing resilience under high-stress intensities. Slower-growing species may bolster interspecific c

SUBMITTER: Liao H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12816087 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature