Lücken et al. – The microbial community model MCoM 1.0: A sclable framework for modelling phototroph-heterotroph interactions in diverse microbial communities

Summary

Lücken and colleagues present a 0D box model of pjototroph-heterotroph-DOM-nutrient interactions. The paper is simple and easy to read and understand. The model equations and motivations are well stated. The outcomes are clearly drawn via use cases against some experimental data.

I have minor comments given that the paper is well written, well presented, and doesn’t overreach. It is a simple model, and the authors are able to fit/explain some experimental data with phototroph-heterotroph interactions with only simple tweaks to their model parameters. While these explanations are not deeply convincing, it does convince me that the model is useful for exploratory studies.

My only comments are:

• Line 79: Can you please define X and Y sub- super-scripts and what these are referring to exactly. Is X flux in and Y flux out?
• Line 308: While this is one way to explain the data, it’s not super convincing. However, you are also not saying that this result is the ultimate explainer… So, I think that’s fine. Perhaps just make a note here that there are other possible processes/mechanisms that could explain this.
• Line 334: by reducing loss rates right?
• Figure 8, panel f: can you give a more clear explanation of this figure for the reader in the text? It took me some time to figure out exactly what was going on here. Your explanation is already okay, but perhaps too concise to allow for smooth interpretation.

Thank you for considering my input to your research,

Pearse J. Buchanan.