"Stable marriages" between microbes, nutrients they eat may explain diverse yet stable communities
A mathematical model created by IGB researchers could help scientists better understand an intriguing characteristic of microbial communities: their ability to achieve stability despite being so diverse.
Microbial communities are groups of microorganisms that exist in a variety of environments — in the soil, in the oceans, and in our bodies. Though these communities are complex and diverse, they are able to form stable ecosystems.