Bassler Fluid Flow (IMAGE) Princeton University Caption Princeton University researchers discovered that the bacteria Vibrio cholerae keeps food generated by the community's productive members away from those of their kind that attempt to live on others' leftovers. The bacteria use two mechanisms that are likely common among bacteria. In some instances, the natural flow of fluids over the surface of bacterial communities can wash away excess food before the freeloaders can indulge. In microscope images, shiftless V. cholerae (red) were in abundance under conditions of no fluid flow (left image). When the bacteria were grown in an environment with fluid flow -- similar to that found in nature -- cooperative V. cholerae (yellow) won out (right image). Credit Image courtesy of Carey Nadell, Department of Molecular Biology Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.