Incorporating dormancy in dynamic microbial community models

► In our study we present the modeling concept for the growth and decay of microorganisms, able to switch between active and dormant physiological states. ► We found that the interactions between growth, decay and the inter-conversion between active and inactive states may cause the emergence of complex behavior. ► Under certain conditions, an effective dormancy-reactivation strategy may have a competitive advantage over a fast growth strategy. ► Certain combinations of growth and dormancy strategies may lead to the long-term coexistence of the two competing species. ► The simulated population dynamics show that dormancy is an important feature of microbial communities, which can lead to complex responses to environmental fluctuations.