G.F. Gause, or Georgii Frantsevich Gause, was a prominent Russian ecologist and microbiologist born in 1910. He is best known for his work in population ecology and for formulating the competitive exclusion principle, which states that two species competing for the same resources cannot coexist indefinitely. This principle has significant implications for understanding biodiversity and species interactions in ecosystems. Gause conducted influential experiments using protozoa to demonstrate his theories, contributing to the field of ecology. His research laid the groundwork for future studies in population dynamics and community ecology, making him a key figure in the development of ecological science during the 20th century.