New definitions of the concepts and terms ecosystem and biogeocenosis

Ostroumov S.A. New definitions of the concepts and terms ecosystem and biogeocenosis. - Doklady Biological Sciences 2002 (March), Volume 383, Numbers 1-6, p. 141-143. 2 tables. Bibliogr. 15 refs. [MAIK Nauka/Interperiodica distributed by Springer Science+Business Media LLC. ISSN 0012-4966 (Print) 1608-3105 (Online)]. In 1935, the term 'ecosystem' was coined by A. Tansley. In the 1940s, another important term 'biogeocoenosis' was introduced by V. N. Sukachev. Since that time, a significant amount of new facts was accumulated in ecology. It is necessary to revisit the formulation of the basic concepts and terms in ecology, including the two terms mentioned above. The author proposed some new variants of the definition of the two terms that (1) reflect the modern vision of the basics of ecology; and (2) avoid the vicious circle of using other terms that in turn request their definitions. The author realizes that the new variants of the terms cannot be ideal and some other variants of the definitions are also possible. 5 specific features of the proposed definition of ecosystem (Table 1). 8 specific features of the proposed definition of biogeocenosis, and 8 distinctions between the proposed definition and the classical definition by V.N.Sukachev (Table 2)].
www.springerlink.com/index/VPG4YU2V3YD6T97B.pdf;
DOI 10.1023/A:1015393924967
Russian version of the paper: http://scipeople.ru/publication/66938/;
Russian version of the paper: New variants of the definitions of the concepts and terms 'ecosystem' and 'biogeocoenosis' - DAN. 2002. v383. No. 4. p.571-573.
Key terms and issues:
ecosystem, A. Tansley, biogeocoenosis, V. N. Sukachev, basic concepts and terms in ecology, basics of ecology, theoretical biology, fundamental concepts, trophic chains, modern conceptualization, populations, interorganismal interactions, levels of life systems, biotic-abiotic interactions, definition, how to define ecosystem;
What are the current (contemporary, modern, up-to-date, updated) definitions of "ecosystem" and "biogeocoenosis"? new approach, definitions and terms, modernization and updating of the conceptual apparatus, ecology, modern vision, habitat, trophic structure, trophic levels, biocenose, biotope, community, history of science, functions of organisms, impact of organisms on environment, terrestrial, soil, water, systems, dynamics of communities, fluctuations, succession, improving education, teaching ecology, environmental science, interactions, ecological links, biosphere.