Fig. 3: Temporal results after 3 K time steps for five-species simulation.

Results are illustrated for three species representing the most fit, least fit, and intermediate species (high, low, and medium fitness, respectively). a Mean abundances of pathogens and mutualists over time on each of the three host species. In all panels time = 0 represents the time at which the adult species occupying the focal cell changes to the species listed at the top of each panel. Each line represents the average population dynamics of the three mutualist and pathogen species as the focal plant increases in age. b Mean survival probabilities over time of each plant species in cells occupied by different species of adults. Each cut-out represents the average temporal dynamics of survival probabilities beneath one of the three focal adult species. Shaded bands in panels (a) and (b) cover the mean ± s.e.m., where n = 48 independent simulation runs. Although standard error values are displayed, values are too small to be visible. a Pathogens rapidly increase in abundance on their preferred hosts, but non-specific pathogens maintain high abundances as well. Conversely, mutualists increase more slowly than pathogens on their preferred host, and drive non-specific mutualists to low abundances. b After a new species recruits in a given cell, the survival probability of its seedlings rapidly decreases as its pathogen increases in abundance. Its survival probability subsequently increases with the abundance of its preferred mutualist.