Population_Biology_and_Ecological_Footprint

Week 2 Laboratory: Population Biology and Ecological Footprint Tube 1: P. Caudatum stock culture; Tube 2: P. Aurelia stock culture; Tube 3: combination of both 1. Make a hypothesis about how you think the two species of Paramecium will grow alone and how they will grow when they are grown together. Each paramecium growing on its own will be able to grow and flourish because there is nothing stopping it or competing with it. It will be able to grow to its full capacity. When there are both parameciums growing together; one paramecium, the stronger of the two, is going to grow faster and larger than the other. This will cause the weaker of the tow to stop growing. As time goes on the stronger paramecium will eventually take over, and the weaker paramecium will disappear. 2. Explain how you tested your hypothesis. I filled on test tube with the Caudatum paramecium, another test tube with Aurelia paramecium, and the 3rd test tube contained both parameciums. Each test tube was tested every 2 days by using wet mount slides. Day 0: Tube 1, 2, and 3 remained equal containing 1 Caudatum and/or 1 Aurelia paramecium. Day 2: Tube 1 – 6 Caudatum Tube 2 – 5 Aurelia Tube 3 – 5 Caudatum and 3 Aurelia Day 4: Tube 1 – 14 Caudatum Tube 2 – 27 Aurelia Tube 3 – 11 Caudatum and 16 Aurelia Day 6: Tube 1 – 24 Caudatum Tube 2 – 40 Aurelia Tube 3 – 9 Caudatum and 31 Aurelia Day 8: Tube 1 – 28 Caudatum Tube 2 – 48 Aurelia Tube 3 – 7 Caudatum and 39 Aurelia Day 10: Tube 1 – 28 Caudatum Tube 2 – 50 Aurelia Tube 3 – 5 Caudatum and 46 Aurelia Day 12: Tube 1 – 28 Caudatum Tube 2 – 51 Aurelia Tube 3 – 3 Caudatum and 48 Aurelia Day 14: Tube 1 – 28 Caudatum Tube 2 – 48 Aurelia Tube 3 – 0 Caudatum and 49 Aurelia Day 16: Tube 1 – 28 Caudatum Tube 2 – 48 Aurelia Tube 3 – 0 Caudatum and 49 Aurelia 3. On what day did the Paramecium Caudatum population reach the carrying capacity of the environment when it was grown alone' How do you know' On day 8 the Caudatum reached its maximum population capacity of 28. This has been proved by the fact that from day 8 through day 16 the Caudatum did not increase its numbers. 4. On what day did the Paramecium Aurelia population reach the carrying capacity of the environment' How do you know' The Aurelia also reached its maximum population capacity, which is 48, on day 8. Although it did increase to 50 on day 10 and 51 on day 12, the Aurelia’s numbers decreases back to 48 on day 14 and remained at that number. 5. Explain the differences in the population growth patterns of the two Paramecium species. What does this tell you about how Paramecium Aurelia uses available resources' Caudatum grew at a much slower pace; only doubling the numbers daily and reaching maximum population capacity by day 8. Aurelia seems to be strong and grew at a much more rapid pace. From day 2 to day 4 in increased its numbers 5 times. Each day after that, it seemed to nearly double its number until reaching the maximum population capacity. This shows that Aurelia has a better capability to use food and solar light to increase its numbers at a faster pace. 6. Describe what happened when the Paramecium populations were mixed in the same test tube. Do the results support the principle of competitive exclusion' When both parameciums were combined in the same test tube, the Aurelia began to grow more rapidly by day 4 and overtake the Caudatum. The results do support the principle of competitive exclusion, as seen by the decreasing number of Caudatum each day and the increasing numbers of Aurelia each day. By day 14 the Caudatum had been extinguished. 7. Explain how this experiment demonstrates that no two species can occupy the same niche. This experiment shows that the strong will overpower the weak and eventually extinguish them if they are not intelligent species that can learn to co-exist with each other.