Spatial array microcosm experiment

Knowledge graph centered on Spatial array microcosm experiment with 15 nodes and 38 connections. Top connected: Bacteria, space use, nutritional niche partitioning, metapopulation structure, cannibalism.

Method synopsis

Laboratory experiment using interconnected bottle arrays to manipulate spatial heterogeneity in protist food webs and test effects on species coexistence.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 1 paper using this protocol.

Procedure as described in the canonical source

Steps below were extracted from the paper that introduces this protocol — Species coexistence in a food web with intraguild predation (2004), URBEE. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Construct spatial arrays
   Build 4x4 arrays of 16 interlinked bottles using Tygon tubing connections between bottles arranged on the diagonal
   Quantities: 16 bottles per array, 3 arrays total (2 HO, 1 HE)Duration: Initial setup before experimentConditions: Ambient light and temperature in laboratory
   Equipment: bottles, Tygon tubing
2. Prepare culture media
   Add 800 ml of nutrient medium (one protozoan pellet per litre of deionized water) to each array, with each bottle containing 50 ml of protozoan media
   Quantities: 800 ml total per array, 50 ml per bottleDuration: Initial setupConditions: Laboratory conditions
   Equipment: protozoan pellets, deionized water
3. Implement spatial treatments
   For HO treatment: remove half the volume of each bottle every second day, mix water together, redistribute over entire array. For HE treatment: leave array unmixed for natural dispersal through tube connections
   Quantities: 50% of bottle volume (400 ml total) removed and redistributed in HODuration: Every second day for 25 daysConditions: Laboratory conditions
   mixing apparatus

Typical Equipment

• bottles
• Tygon tubing

Output Measurements

• population densities
• persistence times
• extinction patterns

Papers Using This Protocol (1)

Species Studied With This Protocol