| ecosystem structure | The physical and spatial aspects of an ecosystem that are contributed by the biotic composition. Biotic composition is generally determined by the collective physiognomy of the dominant plants, including life forms, vertical stratification, and size. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| parasite-host ecosystem | Complex of all parasite species and individuals associated with a specific host. Synonym: parasite-host ecosystem. Origin: parasite + G. Koinos, common, together (05 Mar 2000) |
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| historic ecosystem | The ecosystem intended for restoration which currently exists, or has been known to exist from historical documents, within the geographic region of a restoration site. (09 Oct 1997) |
| ecosystem | <ecology> An ecosystem is the dynamic and interrelating complex of plant and animal communities and their associated non-living environment. The physical and climactic features and all the living and dead organisms in an area that are interrelated in the transfer of energy and material. An interacting complex of a community and its environment functioning as an ecological unit in nature. Differs from system in being a more rigorous definition that encompasses and requires assumptions of energetics, ecological interactions, species adaptations and so forth. (13 Nov 1997) |
| ecosystem altering | Any activity that modifies the biota including species composition, distribution, and abundance and any activity that modifies the physical environment, including soils and the water cycle. (09 Oct 1997) |
| ecosystem dynamics | Those intrinsic ecological functions through which an ecosystem becomes self-regulating, self-sustaining, and capable of recovery from external forces (for example, damaging storm events). These intrinsic processes may cause continual change in biotic composition and structure at specific localities. Collectively, these changes represent internal flux, rather than substantive and permanent alteration of the ecosystem regionally. (09 Oct 1997) |
| ecosystem function | The collective intraspecific and interspecific interactions of the biota, such as primary and secondary production and mutualistic relationships. The interactions between organisms and the physical environment, such as nutrient cycling, soil development, water budgeting, and flammability. (09 Oct 1997) |
| brush heap structure | Haphazard interlocking of fibrils in a gel or hydrocolloid impression material. (05 Mar 2000) |
| gel structure | Brush heap structure of fibrils giving firmness to hydrocolloids. (05 Mar 2000) |
| genetic fine structure | The study of genes on the level of their nucleotide sequences and what happens to their molecular structure at that level. (09 Oct 1997) |
| chi structure | <molecular biology> The name for the X-shaped structure which forms during the recombination process between two plasmids, or circular pieces, of DNA. The Greek letter chi resembles this structure. (05 Jan 1998) |
| group structure | The informal or formal organization of a group of people based on a network of personal relationships which is influenced by the size and composition, etc., of the group. (12 Dec 1998) |
| molecular structure | The location of the atoms, groups or ions relative to one another in a molecule, as well as the number and location of chemical bonds. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cointegrate structure | A structure of DNA produced by the fusion of two replicons, one possessing a transposon. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cruciform structure | A structure, shaped like a cross, which can form during homologous recombination when inverted base-pair repeats pair with each other on the same strand of DNA instead of with homologous sections on a different strand of DNA. (09 Oct 1997) |
| crystal structure | <chemistry> The configuration in which atoms are arranged in a material. These arrangements have a direct effect on the physical properties of the material. These arrangements commonly take the form of cubes, rectangular solids, hexagonal solids. Etc. (05 Aug 1998) |