Eco-evolutionary dynamics in vitro

Laboratory-based microcosms have provided some of the most convincing and detailed documentations of the interaction of evolutionary and ecological dynamics. What can we learn from this approach and how should it be applied in the future? Increasing the sheer number of in vitro examples of eco-evolutionary dynamics is of limited use. Rather, studies should be designed to exploit the particular strength of the microcosm approach: identification of the mechanisms that underlie eco-evolutionary interactions and are representative of natural systems.