Battling Bacteria: Ecosystem Dynamics in a Petri Dish

In this experiment students create their own microbial ecosystems and investigate the dynamics of competition and abiotic/biotic change on community composition. By using bacteria with short generation times students can observe, test, and collect their own data on key ecological phenomena in a week! • Understand niches, biotic/abiotic factors, and species interactions • Create and manipulate a microbial ecosystem • Investigate competition and test Gause's law • Explore how different species respond to stress and environmental change