Bacterial surface colonization, preferential attachment and fitness under periodic stress
Fig 8
The underlying mechanism of the PA strategy.
The beneficial effect of preferential attachment is strongly dependent on the attachment density threshold. PA accelerates the growth of larger aggregates by recruitment of planktonic bacteria. The effect of the PA mechanism depends on the attachment density threshold, A. Low attachment density threshold: Most enriched aggregates do not surpass the protected zone, since the total rate of preferential attachments is divided among a large number of aggregates. B. Optimal attachment density threshold: Preferential attachment to a small group of aggregates which surpass the critical size. C. High attachment density threshold: (few or) no aggregates are large enough to draw the planktonic population.