Extended Data Fig. 4: Coexistence over time.
To examine the stability of coexistence throughout the experiment, we measured the frequency and group size at time 200, 400 and 600. We estimated the frequency of large and small phenotypes by segmenting microscopy images at these timepoints. (A) The large phenotype declined in frequency as a function of time, at approximately 1.3% per 100 transfers (y = 11.96 -.013x, P = 0.00017, linear regression. Adjusted R2 = 0.86). Bars represent one standard deviation. (B) There were no obvious differences in the size of large and small phenotypes over time, though the main effects of time and phenotype were highly significant (F1, 18173 = 226.8 and 6989.5, respectively, P < 10−15 for each, two-way ANOVA), as was the interaction between phenotype and time (F1,18173 = 23.7, P < 10−5). Bars represent one standard deviation. (C) Snapshots of PO-4 populations for each time point measured.
