Spatio-temporal pattern formation of living organisms at the edge of chaos

Understanding spatio-temporal dynamics is essential for predicting how populations fluctuate over time and space. Theoretical models have highlighted the ecological complexity of spatio-temporal dynamics, which can lead to the emergence of complex patterns, including nonlinear dynamics and chaotic behavior, important mechanisms for maintaining of biodiversity. However, these dynamics are difficult to observe experimentally due to a lack of temporal and spatial resolution. Here, we show that even a single-species system exhibits complex spatio-temporal patterns without external forcing where order and chaos coexist (edge of chaos). Automated analyses of experimental dynamics of cells of a ciliate on a microfluidic chip environment with 50 interconnected patches documented pattern formation, including chaos-like dynamics, using several analytical methods. Different initial conditions caused changes in patterns, revealing the complexity and principal unpredictability of self-organized pattern formation. A model containing the stochastic fluctuations of the experiment verified the deterministic nature of patterns. The results show the intrinsic complexity of ecological systems, challenging predictions in nature conservation. Our results bridge the gap between theoretical models and experimental observations, offering new insights into the fundamental nature of living systems and their spatio-temporal organization.