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An experimental model for the spatial structuring and selection of bacterial communities
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 11:02 authored by Thomas, T, Kindinger, I, Yu, D, Esvaran, M, Blackall, L, Forehead, HI, Craig JohnsonCraig Johnson, Manefield, MCommunity-level selection is an important concept in evolutionary biology and has been predicted to arise in systems that are spatially structured. Here we develop an experimental model for spatially-structured bacterial communities based on coaggregating strains and test their relative fitness under a defined selection pressure. As selection we apply protozoan grazing in a defined, continuous culturing system. We demonstrate that a slow-growing bacterial strain Blastomonas natatoria 2.1, which forms coaggregates with Micrococcus luteus, can outcompete a fast-growing, closely related strain Blastomonas natatoria 2.8 under conditions of protozoan grazing. The competitive benefit provided by spatial structuring has implications for the evolution of natural bacterial communities in the environment.
History
Publication title
Journal of Microbiological MethodsVolume
87Pagination
165-168ISSN
0167-7012Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Elsevier Science BvPlace of publication
Po Box 211, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1000 AeRights statement
The definitive version is available at http://www.sciencedirect.comRepository Status
- Restricted