Raw data and tidy data from the pre-adaptation experiment

This dataset accompanies the manuscript titled "Rapid evolution in necromass use under resource limitation reduces persistence in producer-decomposer microbial biospheres." The study investigates how microbial evolution under resource-limited conditions affects the stability and persistence of synthetic microbial ecosystems. Using a closed-system microbial biosphere model, the research examines adaptive changes in <i>Escherichia coli</i> during 60 days of monoculture under spatially homogeneous (HMG) and heterogeneous (HTG) conditions, followed by co-culture with the autotrophic alga <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i>.Key experimental outcomes include phenotypic shifts in<i> E. coli </i>such as loss of motility, enhanced biofilm formation, and improved carbon source utilization—particularly on necromass derived from both <i>E. coli</i> and <i>C. reinhardtii</i>. Contrary to expectations, these adaptive traits, while beneficial in monoculture, reduced system-level persistence in producer-decomposer co-cultures, especially in spatially heterogeneous environments.The dataset includes raw and processed data from growth curve analyses, phenotypic assays (motility, biofilm, curli fimbriae, pellicle formation), chlorophyll fluorescence measurements (as a proxy for system persistence), and cell viability counts over time. Statistical analyses, survival models, and correlation matrices are also provided.<br>This work highlights an important eco-evolutionary trade-off: traits that enhance decomposer performance in isolation can undermine multisystem coexistence, with spatial structure during adaptation playing a critical role in shaping community outcomes. The data support further investigation into how microbial evolution influences ecosystem sustainability and cross-species interactions under resource scarcity.