Contribution of microcosm experiments to conservation science.

ABSTRACT: Microcosms, or miniature experimental systems, have been used to develop models and theories in ecology. However, their contribution to conservation science is unclear. We explored the application, design, and impact of microcosms in conservation science from 469 systematically identified articles published from 1986 to 2023. We used generalized linear modeling to compare cumulative citations over time for each microcosm article with those of 71,738 nonmicrocosm articles in conservation science. We also surveyed the proportion of microcosm articles and nonmicrocosm articles focused on conservation science that were cited in policy documents. Two types of microcosms were used in conservation research: generalized microcosms (i.e., simplified analogies of systems used to test general theorie

SUBMITTER: Stern ER 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12856792 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature