Home » » Feedback added:Very nice and useful contribution to the issue of defining the ecosystem and biogeocenosis in terms of the differences between ecosystems. On the paper: New Definitions of the Concepts and Terms Ecosystem and Biogeocenosis

Feedback added:Very nice and useful contribution to the issue of defining the ecosystem and biogeocenosis in terms of the differences between ecosystems. On the paper: New Definitions of the Concepts and Terms Ecosystem and Biogeocenosis

Feedback added:Very nice and useful contribution to the issue of defining the ecosystem and biogeocenosis in terms of the differences between ecosystems. On the paper:
New Definitions of the Concepts and Terms Ecosystem and Biogeocenosis
 http://5bio5.blogspot.com/2016/10/feedback-addedvery-nice-and-useful.html

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New Definitions of the Concepts and Terms Ecosystem and Biogeocenosis. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/200577836

Article in Doklady Biological Sciences 383:141-143 · March 2002
DOI: 10.1023/a:1015393924967
Abstract
DOI: 10.1023/a:1015393924967;
PMID: 12053565;
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12053565 ;
84 downloads by 26.01.2015. This article was awarded a Diploma to certify its scientific value (at a scientific conference, July 1, 2014). The article was bookmarked by ResearchGate members.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/200577836_New_definitions_of_the_concepts_and_terms_ecosystem_and_biogeocenosis ;

At World Catalog, the paper was reviewed and rated as excellent.…
Supplementary resources
page 1
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Doklady Biological Sciences, Vol. 383, 2002, pp. 141–143. Translated from Doklady Akademii Nauk, Vol. 383, No. 4, 2002, pp. 571
–573.
Original Russian Text Copyright © 2002 by Ostroumov.
The terms ecosystem and biogeocenosis were
coined by Tansley in 1935 [1] and by Sukachev in the
1940s [2], respectively. These terms are widely used in
biological research [3–10], and there are several defini-
tions of the term ecosystem [4–8]. However, a large
body of new biological information has been accumu-
lated since the time of introduction of these terms.
Therefore, a revision of the currently accepted concepts
of natural objects and interpretation of basic ecological
terms (e.g., ecosystem and biogeocenosis) may be pro-
posed. It seems reasonable to continue the search for
new variants of definitions of these terms.
The goal of this work was to contribute to this
search by suggesting and substantiating specific defini-
tions of two basic ecological terms. I certainly realize
that this problem is very complex and its exhaustive
solution is practically unattainable, because it is impos-
sible to find an ideal definition that would be adequate
to all imaginable situations or satisfy all experts. Nev-
ertheless, it is worth trying to propose modern variants
of refined definitions capable of taking into account
large volumes of new information concerning aquatic
[6, 11–15] and terrestrial [7, 9, 10, 14] ecosystems.
Sometimes, the terms used in the definition require
additional explanation themselves (e.g., trophic struc-
ture, biocenosis, community, etc.) [3]. For example,
according to a typical definition, ecosystem is a biolog-
ical community together with its physical environment
(see p. 679 in [5]). However, this definition by no
means reflects the whole body of experimental findings
and theoretical concepts accumulated in ecology dur-
ing the past decades. Given the remarks made above in
this work, the following variant of definition can be
suggested:
Ecosystem
is the complex of interconnected living
organisms inhabiting particular area or unit of space,
together with their environment and all their interrela-
tionships and relationships with the environment. Eco-
system is characterized by the description of popula-
tions (abundance) of individual species; interspecies
relationships; activity of organisms; physical and
chemical characteristics of environment; flows of mat-
ter, energy, and information; and description of changes
of these parameters with time.
This definition does not contain terms such as
trophic structure, trophic levels, biocenosis, biotope,
community, components, systems, and succession.
Because this definition is applicable to both aquatic and
terrestrial ecosystems, as well as to natural or model
systems of various ranges and degrees of complexity, it
seems to be quite universal. Specific features of this
definition and their substantiation are briefly summa-
rized in Table 1.
The term biogeocenosis, suggested in the early
1940s by Sukachev [2], has gained wide recognition [7,
8]. This term is widely used in ecological research. The
classical definition given by Sukachev is cited in many
manuals and textbooks. However, a large body of new
ecological information accumulated since the time of
introduction of the term makes it reasonable to consider
new variants of the definition. These definitions should
take into account both recent progress in biological
research and specific features of the current practice of
the use of this term. For example, many researchers
apply this term to aquatic ecosystems. To be applicable
to aquatic ecosystems, the original definition of this
term should be revised. According to the modern taxo-
nomic system, fungi are excluded from the plant king-
dom. New findings show that the information flow
plays a significant role in the organization of superor-
ganism structures [9, 14]. Based on a modified defini-
tion of V.N. Sukachev, the following definition of bio-
geocenosis can be suggested:
Biogeocenosis
is an aggregate of natural compo-
nents (atmosphere, rocks, plants, animals, representa-
tives of microorganisms and fungi, soil and hydrologi-
cal conditions, and bottom sediments in the case of
aquatic systems) in a particular area of land or water.
Biogeocenosis is characterized by specific relation-
ships between components; specific types of matter,
energy, and information flows providing a certain
degree of integrity (unity of components, indivisibility)
 (continuation - see the text of the paper)
 
New Definitions of the Concepts and Terms Ecosystem
and Biogeocenosis
S. A. Ostroumov
Presented by Academician L.M. Sushchenya November 14, 2001
Received December 6, 2001
Moscow State University, Vorob’evy gory, Moscow,
119899 Russia
Read full publication
Available from: Sergei A. Ostroumov, Dec 16, 2013

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