Which conclusion can be drawn from Gause's experiments on interspecific competition between two species of Paramecium that are cultured together and feed on the same resource?
A) Both populations of Paramecium expire due to a build-up of waste products.
B) One population of Paramecium used the other as a food source.
C) Paramecium populations survive well together because they have no limiting resources.
D) When two populations of Paramecium use the same limiting resource, they can coexist long term.
E) When two populations of Paramecium use the same limiting resource, they cannot coexist long term.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Gause's experiments demonstrated the principle of competitive exclusion, which states that two species competing for the same limiting resources cannot coexist at constant population values. When two species of Paramecium were cultured together with the same limiting resource, one species outcompeted the other, leading to the decline or extinction of the less competitive species.

Which Conclusion Can Be Drawn from Gause's Experiments on Interspecific