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This study investigates the role of spatial segregation, prompted by
competition avoidance, as a key mechanism for emergent coexistence within
microbial communities. Recognizing these communities as complex adaptive
systems, we challenge the sufficiency of pairwise interaction models and
consider the impact of spatial dynamics. We developed an individual-based
spatial simulation depicting bacterial movement through a pattern of random
walks influenced by competition avoidance, leading to the formation of
spatially segregated clusters. This model was integrated with a Lotka-Volterra
metapopulation framework focused on competitive interactions. Our findings
reveal that spatial segregation alone can lead to emergent coexistence in
microbial communities, offering a new perspective on the formation of stable,
coexisting microbe clusters that differ significantly from their behavior in
isolated pairwise interactions. This study underscores the importance of
considering spatial factors in understanding the dynamics of microbial
ecosystems.
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