论文标题
游戏和微生物生态学理论
The theory of games and microbe ecology
论文作者
论文摘要
使用游戏理论，我们提供了数学证据，即如果一种无性繁殖的微生物在其各个生物体之间没有最大的竞争能力可变性，那么该物种很容易被竞争者替代。此外，我们证明，这种最大变化的物种在有限的资源中彼此之间相互中立。他们共存。我们的证明是建设性的：给定一个没有最大变异性的物种，我们构建了一个具有相同（或较低）平均竞争能力的物种，可以侵入它，从某种意义上说，其在竞争中的预期值为正，而非最大变化可变物种的期望值为负。我们的结果指出了经常观察到的（1）微生物具有较大特异性变异性的机械基础，并且（2）现存的微生物物种的数量非常大。
Using game theory we provide mathematical proof that if a species of asexually reproducing microbes does not possess maximum variability in competitive abilities amongst its individual organisms, then that species is vulnerable to replacement by competitors. Furthermore, we prove that such maximally variable species are neutral towards each other in competition for limited resources; they coexist. Our proof is constructive: given one species which does not possess maximum variability, we construct a species with the same (or lower) mean competitive ability which can invade, in the sense that its expected value in competition is positive whereas the expected value of the non-maximally variable species is negative. Our results point towards the mechanistic underpinnings for the frequent observations that (1) microbes are characterized by large intra-specific variability and that (2) the number of extant microbe species is very large.
