Question

How do you think the two Paramecium species will grow alone and when grown together?

a) Both species will thrive when growing alone and equally thrive when competing.
b) Both species will struggle when growing alone and equally struggle when competing.
c) One species will thrive when growing alone, while both species will thrive when competing.
d) Both species will thrive when growing alone, but one will thrive while the other struggles when competing.

Answer 1

When grown alone, both Paramecium aurelia and Paramecium caudatum thrive, but when they are grown together and compete for the same resources, P. aurelia outcompetes P. caudatum, illustrating the principle of competitive exclusion.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question relates to how two species of Paramecium, specifically Paramecium aurelia and Paramecium caudatum, will grow under different conditions. Based on the provided information, both species grow well when they are alone in separate environments. However, when these two species are grown together and compete for the same resources, P. aurelia outcompetes P. caudatum. This is an example of competitive exclusion, a principle stating that two species competing for the same limiting resources cannot coexist at constant population values. If one species has even the slightest advantage over another, that slight advantage will lead to the dominance of one species and the eventual local extinction of the other.

Considering the options provided, the answer would be d. Both species will thrive when growing alone, but when competing for resources, P. aurelia thrives while P. caudatum struggles.