Regulation, Stability, and Diversity in A Model Experimental Microcosm

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Abstract
The stability, regulating factors, and dynamics of an experimental community of protozoans are examined here. The predator Didinium nasutum is found to coexist in microcosms with its prey, Colpidium campylum. Prey are limited by the quantity of bacteria and nutrients available. Didinium proves to be an ineffective predator and is limited by the availability and/or quality of prey as food. Enrichment of this community with bacteria or nutrients results in the extinction of prey and starvation of the predator. Increasing diversity of the lower trophic level by adding alternative prey species destabilizes this community, also causing extinction. Stability depends here on the characteristics of the particular species serving as prey and not simply the diversity of species present.