Application of Ecological Network Theory to the Human Microbiome
Figure 3
Directed
graph representing (hypothetical) strengths of species interactions and the
corresponding matrix of interaction strengths. Positive (negative) values
indicate increase (decrease) in receiving species’ fitness. Units of
interaction are unspecified in this example, but may be observed changes in
biomass. For example, species 1 may produce a metabolite beneficial to species
, while 3
occasionally harms while consuming the metabolite. Species 3
and 4 are competitors, 5 and 4 are mutualists, and other pairs resemble
predator/prey.
