Multiscale analysis of autotroph-heterotroph interactions in a high-temperature microbial community
Fig 3
Overlaying simulation of various nutrient limitation, relative population abundance, and in situ parameters established a lower limit for the total concentration of biomass in a mat community.
Three oxygen fluxes, representing 50, 100, and 200%, of the average observed oxygen flux (420 nmol O2 cm-2 h-1) provided upper and lower bounds of resource availability [12,14]. Each modeled oxygen flux was analyzed using the predicted metabolic strategy for most efficient utilization of oxygen by the autotroph (dotted line) as well as oxygen (solid line) and carbon (dashed line) for the heterotroph. Minimum and maximum active biomass concentrations (top and bottom panels, respectively, note the log scales) and a constant aerobic volume allowed for the prediction of specific growth rates. Consistent with in situ sequence data, the predicted relative population abundance was 0.3 to 0.5 autotroph to heterotroph (vertical boxed area) based on maximum in vitro specific growth rate (horizontal boxed area) and community stability.