Phenotypic Heterogeneity and the Evolution of Bacterial Life Cycles
Fig 7
Schematic overview of life cycles that evolve at different relative cell division rates of sticky cells (R) and migration rates (Pm). Four distinct life cycles evolved. Colonies reproduce either by producing propagules–that migrate via the liquid to new surface areas–or by fission. (Left) Parameter combinations at which different life cycles evolved (see also S5 Fig). (Right) Schematic representations of the different life cycles. Colony propagule shows behaviour of cells in the liquid, cells either remain non-sticky (blue) or differentiate to sticky cell (red). Grey squares represent surface: left squares shows the initial stage of surface colonization; the squares in the middle show the typical colony; the squares on the right show colony fission.