Dispersal network structure and infection mechanism shape diversity in a coevolutionary bacteria-phage system.

ABSTRACT: Resource availability, dispersal and infection genetics all have the potential to fundamentally alter the coevolutionary dynamics of bacteria-bacteriophage interactions. However, it remains unclear how these factors synergise to shape diversity within bacterial populations. We used a combination of laboratory experiments and mathematical modeling to test how the structure of a dispersal network affects host phenotypic diversity in a coevolving bacteria-phage system in communities of differential resource input. Unidirectional dispersal of bacteria and phage from high to low resources consistently increased host diversity compared with a no dispersal regime. Bidirectional dispersal, on the other hand, led to a marked decrease in host diversity. Our mathematical model predicted these opposin

SUBMITTER: Sieber M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3930312 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature