How did the friendship between John Steinbeck and marine biologist Ed Ricketts influence his novels?

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Portrait of John Steinbeck in a suit and tie, looking downward with a serious expression. — John Steinbeck American novelist John Steinbeck.

The friendship between John Steinbeck and marine biologist Ed Ricketts significantly influenced Steinbeck's novels. Ricketts, often referred to as "Doc" in Steinbeck's works, provided inspiration for characters and themes, particularly concerning the interconnectedness of life and the natural world. Their collaboration on Sea of Cortez (1941) allowed Steinbeck to explore scientific observation and philosophical ideas that permeated his later fiction. Ricketts's holistic view of life, known as "Rickettsian biology," deeply impacted Steinbeck's understanding of humanity's place within the larger ecosystem, a theme evident in novels like Cannery Row.1