She furthermore states that these individuals see themselves as microcosms of the universal macrocosm. Open or closed microcosms provide an experimental area for ecologists to study natural ecological processes. Additionally, evidence of this relationship has also been found in grassland microcosms. In the late 1980s, several studies examined priority effects in marine microcosms. The psyche becomes the setting in the microcosms this particular brand of horror creates. China's planned cities were constructed according to sacred principles to act as celestial microcosms. The report recommends redesigning these microcosms according to three guidelines. Gay's individuals are microcosms of the society at large.