Competition, not cooperation, dominates interactions among culturable microbial species
Foster KR, Bell T · Current Biology 2012
Experimental (in vitro)
Key finding
Across hundreds of species pairings, competitive interactions vastly outnumbered cooperative ones.
In plain language
An important corrective. When researchers systematically tested species against each other, most relationships were competitive, not mutually helpful.
How much weight this carries
Repeatedly demonstrated, with agreement across independent groups.
Cite or read it
Foster KR, Bell T (2012). Competition, not cooperation, dominates interactions among culturable microbial species. Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2012.08.005