Biodiversity of marine microbes is safeguarded by phenotypic heterogeneity in ecological traits.

ABSTRACT: Why, contrary to theoretical predictions, do marine microbe communities harbor tremendous phenotypic heterogeneity? How can so many marine microbe species competing in the same niche coexist? We discovered a unifying explanation for both phenomena by investigating a non-cooperative game that interpolates between individual-level competitions and species-level outcomes. We identified all equilibrium strategies of the game. These strategies represent the probability distribution of competitive abilities (e.g. traits) and are characterized by maximal phenotypic heterogeneity. They are also neutral towards each other in the sense that an unlimited number of species can co-exist while competing according to the equilibrium strategies. Whereas prior theory predicts that natural selection would m

SUBMITTER: Menden-Deuer S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8336841 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature