Two Paramecium species were grown alone and together in standardized cultures. The graph shows population density over 16 days.
What does the comparison of mixed and single cultures demonstrate?
- A
P. aurelia thrives only in the presence of P. caudatum.
- B
P. caudatum cannot survive alone.
- Ccheck_circle
Competitive exclusion: P. aurelia outcompetes P. caudatum when resources overlap.
- D
Both species coexist stably.
Explanation
Both grow well alone, but in coculture P. caudatum is driven toward extinction while P. aurelia thrives, illustrating Gause's principle of competitive exclusion.