Ecology Functional Groups
Encyclopedia
In ecology
, functional groups are collections of organisms based on morphological
, physiological, behavioral, biochemical, environmental
responses or on trophic
criteria.
In ocean
biogeochemical modelling, the following four criteria have been proposed :
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
, functional groups are collections of organisms based on morphological
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
, physiological, behavioral, biochemical, environmental
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
responses or on trophic
Trophic level
The trophic level of an organism is the position it occupies in a food chain. The word trophic derives from the Greek τροφή referring to food or feeding. A food chain represents a succession of organisms that eat another organism and are, in turn, eaten themselves. The number of steps an organism...
criteria.
In ocean
Ocean
An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
biogeochemical modelling, the following four criteria have been proposed :
- That the collection of organisms, called a planktonPlanktonPlankton are any drifting organisms that inhabit the pelagic zone of oceans, seas, or bodies of fresh water. That is, plankton are defined by their ecological niche rather than phylogenetic or taxonomic classification...
function type (PFT), should have an explicit biogeochemical role - that the PFT should be defined by a distinct set of physiological, environmental, or nutrient requirements controlling its biomassProductivity (ecology)In ecology, productivity or production refers to the rate of generation of biomass in an ecosystem. It is usually expressed in units of mass per unit surface per unit time, for instance grams per square metre per day. The mass unit may relate to dry matter or to the mass of carbon generated...
and productivityProductivity (ecology)In ecology, productivity or production refers to the rate of generation of biomass in an ecosystem. It is usually expressed in units of mass per unit surface per unit time, for instance grams per square metre per day. The mass unit may relate to dry matter or to the mass of carbon generated...
, - that the behavior of the PFT should have distinct effects on the performance of other PFTs, for instance, through selective depletion of nutrients or grazingGrazingGrazing generally describes a type of feeding, in which a herbivore feeds on plants , and also on other multicellular autotrophs...
, and - that the PFT should be of quantitative importance in at least some region of the ocean.
External links
- PlankTOM, an ecosystem modelEcosystem modelAn ecosystem model is an abstract, usually mathematical, representation of an ecological system , which is studied to gain a deeper understanding of the real system.Ecosystem models are formed by combining known ecological relations An ecosystem model is an abstract, usually mathematical,...
of ocean biogeochemistryBiogeochemistryBiogeochemistry is the scientific discipline that involves the study of the chemical, physical, geological, and biological processes and reactions that govern the composition of the natural environment...