Species are like cells and ecosystems are like organisms, study shows

[auroraglacialis]

Species are to ecosystems as cells are to the human body, according to a mathematical model

An ecosystem is like a great organism in that the species in it behave in a manner similar to the manner in which cells behave within the human body: the group forms a permanent entity, although the entities that form it are constantly being substituted. This is is the conclusion that can be drawn from a theoretical study carried out by researchers at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

This is interesting. Sounds like a mathematical evidence for the "Gaia theory" - not the more philosophical approach about Gaia/Earth being sentient or conscious, but about it being basically a living being or organism as a whole. As Earth as a whole is a system of connected ecosystems forming a global ecosystem, if the species (and maybe on a more detailled level also individuals) form the cells, then rivers, oceans and air literally are the nutrient flows, forming the "blood vessels" and rocks give the whole system the physical shape and determine local functions (like a skeleton). Very cool.

And an interesting part was this:

Another piece of evidence that they have proved is the "large predator" effect, which has been observed in real ecosystems. This effect occurs when the extinction of a large predator that consumes a variety of species leads to the subsequent extinction of the species the predator had previously preyed upon. The reason is that the predator had acted as a regulator of the prey's population. Consequently, when the predator is no longer present, the prey's population grows to the point that depletes its resources, which leads to its extinction, as well.

Humans have managed to eliminate the threat of predators (and equivalents) - so we are in that trap somehow - sadly the model does not describe what the species in that predicament can do - create a new predator or something that simulates this? Our hope is, that human intelligence can replace the predator - let's hope this works out. Up to now it has not done so. Though stress (career stress, financial stress etc) seems to be sort of a good "predator equivalent" for western civilization. A lot of people actually die from it but most of all it is a main contributor to reduced population growth (choosing career over children, having not enough money to afford children, fearing for potential childrens economical future). Another large one surprisingly is selfishness and individualism (prefering to have enough time and money to go on many vacations over having children).