Contribution of microcosm experiments to conservation science.

Area of Science:

• Ecology and Conservation Science

Background:

• Microcosms are valuable tools in ecological research but their specific impact on conservation science remains underexplored.
• A systematic review of 469 articles (1986-2023) was conducted to assess the role of microcosms in conservation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the application, design, and impact of microcosms within conservation science.
• To compare the citation rates and policy document inclusion of microcosm-based conservation research versus non-microcosm research.

Main Methods:

• Generalized linear modeling was used to compare cumulative citations of microcosm and non-microcosm conservation articles.
• The proportion of articles cited in policy documents was analyzed for both microcosm and non-microcosm studies.
• Two types of microcosms were identified: generalized and specialized, applied across various ecosystems and species.

Main Results:

• Microcosm studies, often small-scale and short-term with high replication, were cited up to twice as often as non-microcosm studies 25 years post-publication.
• Both microcosm and non-microcosm conservation articles were cited in policy documents at similar rates.
• Microcosms were utilized to investigate biodiversity, invasive species, extinction, pollution, and climate change.

Conclusions:

• Microcosms offer significant benefits to conservation science due to their manipulability, replicability, and low-risk experimental nature.
• Future applications of microcosms in conservation include providing experimental evidence for theories, models, and hypotheses.
• Integrating microcosm research can strengthen conservation strategies for urgent ecological challenges.