If they are rod shaped bacteria measure chemical gradients better

Range ~650 times
Organism bacteria
Reference Young KD. The selective value of bacterial shape. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 2006 Sep70(3):660-703 DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.00001-06 p.679 left column 2nd paragraphPubMed ID16959965
Primary Source [63] Dusenbery DB. Fitness landscapes for effects of shape on chemotaxis and other behaviors of bacteria. J Bacteriol. 1998 Nov180(22):5978-83.PubMed ID9811657
Comments P.679 left column 2nd paragraph: "Because small differences in diameter produce huge differences in energy cost, the ability to detect and move through chemical gradients may contribute more to a cell's tendency to be rod-like than requirements associated with undirected movement (primary source, ref 217). In addition to the above considerations, bacteria measure chemical gradients about 650 times better if the cells are rod shaped, mainly because spherical cells are affected so much more by Brownian motion and rotational diffusion (primary source). Certainly, though, for cells in any particular environment the most appropriate size and shape will be heavily influenced by the distance to nutrients and the steepness of the gradients leading to their sources. Small cells will be favored in gradients that cover short distances, but wider cells will be more competitive in very long, shallow gradients (ref 217)."
Entered by Uri M
ID 115615