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! Expt. 935 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