How public can public goods be? Environmental context shapes the evolutionary ecology of partially private goods

• Published in: PLoS computational biology Vol. 18; no. 11; p. e1010666
• Main Authors: Lerch, Brian A., Smith, Derek A., Koffel, Thomas, Bagby, Sarah C., Abbott, Karen C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.11.2022; PLOS; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Biological Evolution; Biology and Life Sciences; Case studies; Cell growth; Coexistence; Context; Cyanobacteria; Earth Sciences; Ecology; Ecology, environment; Economic aspects; Engineering and Technology; Environmental aspects; Evolution; Genomes; Life Sciences; Lower bounds; Nitrogen fixation; Nitrogenation; Per capita; Private goods; Privatization; Public good; Public goods; Public services; Strains (organisms); Streamlining; United States

The production of costly public goods (as distinct from metabolic byproducts) has largely been understood through the realization that spatial structure can minimize losses to non-producing “cheaters” by allowing for the positive assortment of producers. In well-mixed systems, where positive assortm...