Fig. 2: Heat map representation of the population dynamics of B. subtilis rap–phr mutants in competition.

Color intensities of the boxes represent the population percentage of strains. Text columns at far-left and far-right indicate which rap–phr genes have been deleted (A indicates a ΔrapA mutant, AB indicates a ΔrapAΔrapB mutant, and so on), WT indicates B. subtilis DK1042. Text rows on top indicate type of culture (planktonic or pellicle), incubation period (2d = 2 days, 5d = 5 days), transfer number of represented population (t1–t9), and mix and replicate number. Competition populations were started from four biologically independent population mixes (A–D), with six technical replicates per mix. The first four box columns indicate the population representation of tested strains in the competition starter mixes. Both panels show the same data, although using different scales (shown in the top-right corner of each panel): a linear increment of percentage, b logarithmic increment of percentage.