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Dictionary » E » Ecosystem

Ecosystem

Definition

noun, plural: ecosystems

A system that includes all living organisms (biotic factors) in an area as well as its physical environment (abiotic factors) functioning together as a unit.


Supplement

An ecosystem is made up of plants, animals, microorganisms, soil, rocks, minerals, water sources and the local atmosphere interacting with one another.


Word origin: coined in 1930 by Roy Clapham, to denote the physical and biological components of an environment considered in relation to each other as a unit.
Related phrases: ecosystem model, ecosystem ecology, ecosystem diversity.
See also: biotic factor, abiotic factor, ecology.


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Question on Predators/ NS

... have done without the carp. Alternatively the carp is going to hunt all prey to death, and the carp population is going to collapse because the ecosystem will not be abl to support it. Then prey are going to multiply again and if there are enough prey the carp population is going to follow repeating ...

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by canalon
Wed Jul 29, 2009 1:35 am
 
Forum: Evolution
Topic: Question on Predators/ NS
Replies: 6
Views: 157

Question on Predators/ NS

It can be a significant change in a local ecosystem, which is what drives selection. "Natural" in this case is just a label - any population affected by the appearance of carp, etc, will either adapt over subsequent generations...or ...

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by Darby
Tue Jul 28, 2009 8:11 pm
 
Forum: Evolution
Topic: Question on Predators/ NS
Replies: 6
Views: 157

Re: HELP with Ecosystem

spike in insects, loss of plant life, reduction in major predation

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by bituufg
Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:05 am
 
Forum: Ecology
Topic: HELP with Ecosystem
Replies: 4
Views: 1973

Re: Questions about a career in biology

Systems biology is another area you might find interesting. There has been lots of modeling of biological systems on levels from cellular to ecosystem. Genetic algorithms are also an interesting area, though they have found more application as an optimization tool than in biology. For early ...

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by jonmoulton
Thu Jun 11, 2009 5:07 pm
 
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Questions about a career in biology
Replies: 4
Views: 165

Re: HELP with Ecosystem

If for Environmental Science, I currently using the college textbooks Enger's Environmental Science

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by cocomartini
Fri May 08, 2009 3:09 am
 
Forum: Ecology
Topic: HELP with Ecosystem
Replies: 4
Views: 1973
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