Coexistence of bacteria with a competition-colonization tradeoff on a dynamic coral host

Abstract Many macroscopic organisms enter into tightly linked symbiosis with microbial communities. Although experimental work has demonstrated the importance of these symbioses, a theoretical understanding of stable, multi-scale coexistence remains underdeveloped. Here, we explored how the competition-colonization tradeoff, a classic coexistence mechanism, operates when bacterial species compete for a dynamic biological host. Specifically, we introduce a model where corals are colonized by fast-growing mutualists and slow-growing pathogens. We found that the vital rates of the host coral influenced coexistence outcomes between bacterial types. Notably, pathogen-induced host death expanded the region of parameter space where coexistence was stable for all three species and mutualistic bacteria enabled coexistence in systems that would have otherwise collapsed. These findings provide new insights into the interplay between microbial interactions and macroscopic processes. Our work illustrates how host-microbe interactions can shape ecosystem stability, providing a theoretical framework applicable to a wide range of symbiotic systems.