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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Apr 1.
Published in final edited form as: Anal Bioanal Chem. 2020 Nov 26;413(9):2331–2344. doi: 10.1007/s00216-020-03085-7

Fig. 2. Mutualistic and competitive interactions within the phytoplankton-associated bacteria community.

Fig. 2

Phytoplankton and the associated bacteria are engaged in mutualistic interactions in which phytoplankton provides organic carbon to the associated bacteria and, in return, associated bacteria provide micro/macro nutrients in a form that can be more readily uptaken by phytoplankton. Competitive interactions include competition for nutrients and light within phytoplankton, competition for nutrients among the associated bacteria, and the secretion of algicides from the associated bacteria to inhibit algal growth.