Abstract
The response of two‐species commensalistic systems in a chemostat has been investigated after perturbations in steady state conditions and after step changes in dilution rate. The system is inherently stable with not more than three overshoots and undershoots possible. More complicated commensalistic systems are less stable, with limit cycle response occurring after dilution rate changes when feedback inhibition and feedforward activation occurs. In general variation of feedback parameters is more effective in changing the behavior of the systems than variation of feedforward parameters. Limited agreement with the experimental data of Chao and Reilly was obtained.