Understanding how the three currencies of life – energy, material, and information – interact is a key step towards synthesis in ecology and evolution. However, current theory focuses on the role of matter as a resource and energy, and typically ignores how the same matter can have other important effects as a carrier of information or modifier of the environment. Here we present the hypothesis that the dynamic conversion of matter by organisms among its three currencies mediates the structure and function of ecosystems, and that these effects can even supersede the effects of matter as a resource. Humans are changing the information in the environment and this is altering species interactions and flows of matter within and among ecosystems.

了解生命的三种货币（能源，物质和信息）如何相互作用是迈向生态和进化综合的关键一步。但是，当前的理论侧重于物质作为资源和能量的作用，并且通常忽略了同一物质作为信息的载体或环境的调节剂如何具有其他重要作用。在这里，我们提出一个假设，即有机物在其三种货币之间的动态转换介导了生态系统的结构和功能，并且这些影响甚至可以取代物质作为资源的影响。人类正在改变环境中的信息，这正在改变生态系统内部和之间的物种相互作用和物质流动。