Gause's experiments with Paramecium and Didinium showed
A) extinction of the predator, followed by extinction of the prey, in all habitats.
B) coexistence of predator and prey at fairly constant population sizes, in all habitats.
C) coexistence of predator and prey, but with oscillating population sizes, in all habitats.
D) coexistence of predator and prey at fairly constant population sizes, but only in the presence of refuges and predator reservoirs.
E) coexistence of predator and prey with oscillating population sizes, but only in the presence of refuges and predator reservoirs.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Gause's experiments demonstrated that coexistence of predator (Didinium) and prey (Paramecium) with oscillating population sizes was possible, but only in environments that provided refuges for the prey and reservoirs for the predators. This allowed both populations to recover and maintain a dynamic balance.

Gause's Experiments with Paramecium and Didinium Showed