title: Specialization and bet hedging in heterogeneous populations.
abstract: Phenotypic heterogeneity is a strategy commonly used by bacteria to rapidly adapt to changing environmental conditions. Here, we study the interplay between phenotypic heterogeneity and genetic diversity in spatially extended populations. By analyzing the spatiotemporal dynamics, we show that the level of mobility and the type of competition qualitatively influence the persistence of phenotypic heterogeneity. While direct competition generally promotes persistence of phenotypic heterogeneity, specialization dominates in models with indirect competition irrespective of the degree of mobility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Arnold-Sommerfeld-Center for Theoretical Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Theresienstrasse 37, D-80333 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rulands
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Arnold-Sommerfeld-Center for Theoretical Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Theresienstrasse 37, D-80333 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Arnold-Sommerfeld-Center for Theoretical Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Theresienstrasse 37, D-80333 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frey
mesh_terms: D000220:Adaptation, Biological; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008954:Models, Biological; D010641:Phenotype; D011157:Population Dynamics