Habitat geometry in artificial microstructure affects bacterial and fungal growth, interactions, and substrate degradation 2nd part

Microhabitat conditions determine the magnitude and speed of microbial
processes but have been challenging to investigate. In this study we used
microfluidic devices to determine the effect of the spatial distortion of
a pore space on fungal and bacterial growth, interactions, and substrate
degradation. The devices contained channels differing in bending angles
and order. Sharper angles reduced fungal and bacterial biomass, especially
when angles were repeated in the same direction. Substrate degradation was
only decreased by angles when fungi and bacteria were grown together.
Investigation at the cellular scale suggests that this was caused by
fungal habitat modification, which branched in sharp and repeated turns,
blocking the dispersal of bacteria and the substrate. Our results
demonstrate how the geometry of microstructures can influence microbial
activity. This can be transferable to soil pore spaces, where spatial
occlusion and microbial feedback on microstructures is thought to explain
organic matter stabilization.