Final answer:
The extinction of P. caudatum when grown in culture together with P. aurelia represents the competitive exclusion principle, which states that no two species can coexist when competing for the same resources in the same place and time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phenomenon where Paramecium caudatum is driven to extinction when grown in culture together with Paramecium aurelia is known as the competitive exclusion principle. This principle states that no two species within a habitat can coexist when they compete for the same resources at the same place and time. In this scenario, when these two species are grown together, P. aurelia outcompetes P. caudatum for resources, which leads to the latter's extinction.
It's an example of natural competition between organisms, where one species proves better suited to the environment and so dominates, ultimately driving the other species away or to extinction. This observation aligns with the findings in figure 45.24, 36.25 and 19.19 where P. aurelia and P. caudatum grow well individually, but when they compete for the same resources, P. aurelia outperforms P. caudatum.
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