Eco-evolutionary emergence of macroecological scaling in plankton communities. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38359116/)

These scientists wanted to understand how different animals in nature interact with each other and how these interactions affect the balance of ecosystems. They focused on the relationship between predators (animals that eat other animals) and their prey (animals that are eaten). They found that there are certain patterns in nature that show how much prey there is compared to predators, and they wanted to figure out why these patterns exist.

To do this, the scientists created a computer model that simulates how predators and prey behave in a natural environment. They input data about phytoplankton (tiny plant-like organisms) and zooplankton (tiny animal-like organisms) to represent the predator-prey relationship. By studying how these organisms interacted in the model, the scientists discovered that the sizes of the organisms and how they consume nutrients and food play a big role in shaping the balance between predators and prey in an ecosystem.

The scientists found that by looking at how different organisms are connected to each other in terms of size and feeding habits, they could better understand how ecosystems work as a whole. Their study helped them make predictions about how predator and prey populations are related in real ecosystems, and they found that their predictions matched well with what is observed in nature. This research helps us understand more about how different animals in nature are connected and how these connections influence the health of ecosystems.

Wickman J., Litchman E., Klausmeier CA. Eco-evolutionary emergence of macroecological scaling in plankton communities. Science. 2024 Feb 16;383(6684):777-782. doi: 10.1126/science.adk6901. Epub 2024 Feb 15.