title: Artificial soil microcosms: a tool for studying microbial autecology under controlled conditions.
abstract: A novel artificial microcosm containing all the essential chemical components of soil, but with reduced heterogeneity and biological complexity, has been developed. Its utility for supporting realistic microbial populations was demonstrated and an example of how competing bacteria can be studied is illustrated.
authors.affiliation: NERC Centre for Population Biology, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, SL5 7PY, Berks, UK, r.ellis@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ellis
mesh_terms: D001546:Bentonite; D002119:Calcium Carbonate; D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods; D017753:Ecosystem; D006812:Humic Substances; D007616:Kaolin; D011551:Pseudomonas fluorescens / Q000254:growth & development*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D006812:Humic Substances; D001546:Bentonite; D007616:Kaolin; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D002119:Calcium Carbonate