Synthetic Ecosystems: From the Test Tube to the Biosphere.

Area of Science:

• Ecosystem Engineering and Synthetic Biology
• Quantitative Ecology and Systems Biology

Background:

• Ecosystem studies traditionally rely on population dynamics, focusing on quantifying populations and their interactions.
• Advancements in bioengineering necessitate quantitative models for managing novel synthetic ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive survey of quantitative modeling approaches for synthetic ecosystems.
• To explore the management of engineered strains within diverse synthetic ecosystem scales.

Main Methods:

• Survey of quantitative modeling techniques applicable to synthetic ecosystems.
• Categorization of synthetic ecosystems into three types: low-species test tubes, mesoscale ecospheres, and macro-scale engineered environments.

Main Results:

• Identification of key quantitative modeling approaches for managing synthetic ecosystems.
• Discussion of the potential outcomes and limitations of synthetic ecosystem designs across different scales.

Conclusions:

• Quantitative models are essential for the design and management of bioengineered ecosystems.
• The proposed framework and roadmap address future research directions in synthetic ecosystem engineering for applications in medicine, astrobiology, and climate change mitigation.