Dictionary > Biocoenosis

Biocoenosis

Definition
noun, plural: biocoenoses
All the interacting organisms that live together in a specific habitat or biotope, forming an ecological community
Supplement
In ecology, a community refers to an association of living organisms having mutual relationships among themselves and to their environment and thus functioning, at least to some degree, as an ecological unit. It is comprised of the different groups of organisms coexisting in a habitat over a particular time. An ecological community is also called a biocenosis. A biocenosis thus refers to a group of interdependent organisms living and interacting with each other in the same habitat. It may also pertain to a group of fossil species that are typically found together in the same habitat or site. The term biocenosis is coined by German zoologist and ecologist, Karl Möbius. In 1877 he used the word to describe the interacting organisms living together in a biotope.1 The organisms in a community interact with one another, often, affecting each other’s abundance, distribution, adaptation, and existence. An ecological community may range in size from the very small community as in a pond or a tree to the huge regional or global community as in a biome. Biocenosis has different forms: (1) zoocenosis, a faunal community, (2) phytocenosis, a flora community, and (3) microbiocenosis, a microbial community.
Word origin: Biocönose (1877) > bio- + -cönose < Gk koínōsis mingling, sharing Variant(s):

  • biocoenosis
  • biocenose
  • biocoenose

Synonym(s):

  • biotic community
  • biological community
  • ecological community
  • life assemblage
  • See also:

    Reference(s):

    1 Möbius, K. (1877). Die Auster und die Austernwirtschaft. Verlag von Wiegandt, Hemple & Parey: Berlin.


    You will also like...

    Psychiatry and mental disorders
    Psychiatry & Mental Disorders

    Different mental disorders are described here. Read this tutorial to get an overview of schizophrenia, affective mood di..

    Chemical effects on plant growth and development
    Effect of Chemicals on Growth & Development in Organisms

    Plants and animals need elements, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium for proper growth and developme..

    Protein (illustration)
    Protein Variety

    The sequence of amino acids determines the type of protein. Protein is synthesized according to the sequence of nucleoti..

    Birth of a Human Baby
    Birth of a Human Baby

    Following nine months inside the mother's womb is the birth of the baby. Know the different stages of the birthing proce..

    Biological Energy
    ATP & ADP – Biological Energy

    ATP is the energy source that is typically used by an organism in its daily activities. The name is based on its structu..

    New Zealand - Biodiversity fauna
    New Zealand’s Biodiversity

    Find out more about New Zealand's unique biodiversity by exploring a range of different ecosystems and the key role of s..

    Related Articles...

    No related articles found

    See all Related Topics