Sample programs of an eco-redox model for the article: Microbial redox cycling enhances ecosystem thermodynamic efficiency and productivity

<p><span>Microbial life in low-energy ecosystems relies on individual energy conservation, optimizing </span><span>energy use in response to interspecific competition, and mutualistic interspecific syntrophy. Our study proposes a novel community-level strategy for increasing energy use efficiency. By</span> <span>utilizing a</span><span>n</span> <span>oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction network model that represents microbial redox metabolic interactions, we </span><span>investigated multiple species-level competition and cooperation within the network</span><span>. Our results suggest that microbial functional diversity allows for metabolic handoffs</span><span>, which in turn lead to increased energy use efficiency. Furthermore, the mutualistic division of labor and the resulting </span><span>complexity of redox pathways actively </span><span>drive material cycling, further promoting energy exploitation. Our findings reveal the potential of self-organized ecological interactions to develop efficient energy utilization strategies, with important implications for microbial ecosystem functioning and </span><span>co-</span><span>evolution of life and Earth.</span></p>