Population oscillations in continuous culture of the prey-predator systems Escherichia coli - Dictyostelium discoideum and Proteus vulgaris - Dictyostelium discoideum

An investigation of expected population oscillations in a continuous flow culture of prey-predator interactions was made. A Coulter Counter was used to enumerate the population levels and periodic checks were performed with a Petroff-Hausser bacterial counts. Population oscillations of both prey and predator occurred in the continuous flow culture of either bacterial species with the myxamoeba. Ingestion by myxamoeba lowers the bacterial population until it limited its own food supply to cause a decline in its population. Fewer predators permit the bacteria to reproduce and regain their former high population. The repeat of cycle produces population oscillations. The period of oscillation was approximately 25 to 35 minutes. Different dilution rates did not lead to a significant change in the period or amplitude of population oscillations.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Sanitary Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Sanitary Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Year dc:date.issued

1967

Author dc:creator

• Chen, Shin Jong

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/70493

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/70493