Population Density Modulates Coexistence in Cooperative and Cheating <i>Kluyveromyces lactis</i> Strains

This study explores the influence of population density on the coexistence of cooperative and cheating strains of <i>Kluyveromyces lactis. </i>Utilizing the Snowflake (cooperative) and Co-Uni (cheating) strains developed by Driscoll &amp; Travisano. By varying population density, we examined how interaction frequencies affect their interactions and community composition. Our findings revealed that reduced interaction frequencies decrease the benefit associated with cheating, but maintain the benefit associated with cooperating. Over ~60 generations we observed that cell-cell interactions play a crucial role in maintaining coexistence and are contingent on population density. These insights contribute to ecological theories on species coexistence and have practical applications in managing biofilms and designing stable microbial consortia.<br>