TABLE 1.
Description of nine possible outcomes of cogrowth per microbea
| Description | Type |
|---|---|
| The microbe grows slower in the presence of the other microbe, whereas the other microbe grows faster. | Parasitism |
| The microbe grows faster in the presence of the other microbe, whereas the other microbe grows more slowly. | Parasitism |
| The microbe's growth is not affected, whereas the other microbe grows faster. | Commensalism |
| The microbe grows faster in the presence of the other microbe, whereas the other microbe's growth is not affected. | Commensalism |
| Neither microbe affects the growth of its partner significantly. | Neutralism |
| The microbe grows more slowly in the presence of the other microbe, whereas the other microbe's growth is not affected. | Amensalism |
| The microbe's growth is not affected, whereas the other microbe grows more slowly. | Amensalism |
| Both microbes grow more slowly when they are grown together than when they are grown separately. | Competition |
| Both microbes achieve a significantly higher growth rate when they are grown together than when they are grown separately. | Mutualism |
a
A difference in growth rate of at least 10% compared with the growth rate of the microbe grown separately was considered significant.