2019/08/31 by Gurdip Uppal, Dervis Can Vural
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · Social Sciences · #Biological evolution #Distributed Control Multi-Agent Systems #Ecological niche #Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation #Generalist and specialist species #Genetic Fitness #Host (biology) #Mechanism (biology) #Micro and Nano Robotics #Niche #Order (exchange) #physics.bio-ph #q-bio.PE
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/jeb.13593
15 pages, 6 figures
openalex publication_date 2020/01/28 · arxiv created 2020/01/30 · arxiv updated 2020/02/03 · openalex created_date 2020/02/07 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
Here, we study the evolution of specialization using realistic computer simulations of bacteria that secrete two public goods in a dynamic fluid. Through this first-principles approach, we find physical factors such as diffusion, flow patterns and decay rates are as influential as fitness economics in governing the evolution of community structure, to the extent that when mechanical factors are taken into account, (a) generalist communities can resist becoming specialists despite the invasion fitness of specialization; (b) generalist and specialists can both resist cheaters despite the invasion fitness of free-riding; and (c) multiple community structures can coexist despite the opposing force of competitive exclusion. Our results emphasize the role of spatial assortment and physical forces on niche partitioning and the evolution of diverse community structures.